Bolton: Slight rise in Universal Credit claimants theboltonnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theboltonnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
BOLTON’S job market is “heading in the right direction” after figures revealed the unemployment rate has dropped by nearly 10 per cent from last year. According to the Department for Work and Pensions the alternative claimant count as of May 21 was 14,464 unemployed people in the borough, down nine per cent on the previous year after the first lockdown. Unlike universal credit figures, which represent people who have part-time work or who may be ill, the alternative claimant count records people who are unemployed and searching for work. Youth unemployment is also down, with a total of 2,616 people aged 18-24 looking for work, a decrease of nine per cent.
AROUND 70 employers are helping Bolton’s young people to get back into work as part of the Government’s Kickstart scheme. The programme was launched in September to support firms to offer six-month work placements to 16-24 year olds who are in receipt of Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment. Bolton University has been heavily involved with this, having already offered 11 roles to candidates. The university will also be organising a recruitment event in February to take on more people. Now the scheme has expanded to ensure small businesses can participate. Previously a business had to offer 30 roles but now that requirement has been dropped.