Published at 16:30, Thursday, 14 March 2013

BARROW has the second highest number of job seekers in the north west, according to union figures.

Unison, the UK’s largest union, has released figures showing on average there are 3.8 unemployed people chasing every vacancy in the region.

Many local authorities are hit harder still, with more than five unemployed people chasing every advertised job in 12 authorities. Worst hit regionally is Tameside in Manchester, where there are 9.9 jobseekers for every vacant post, while in Barrow there are 8.7.

In Liverpool and on the Wirral, seven people are pursuing every post, and in Sefton there are 6.9 claimants for each job.

In Copeland, there are 5.5 jobseekers per vacancy while South Lakeland has the joint lowest figure with Warrington at 1.2.

The union claims the figures expose the damaging scale of the jobs crisis and the urgent need for a bold strategy for growth and jobs in the forthcoming budget.

More than 63,000 public sector jobs have gone in the north west since the coalition came to power, with more cuts to come.

Kevan Nelson, regional secretary for Unison North West, said: “The scale of the ongoing jobs crisis is deeply worrying. Three long years of cuts – with more to come – and still there are not enough jobs to go around.

“The government has got it wrong on the recession and it has sacrificed our recovery. As well as laying waste to our public services, cuts have a stranglehold on the private sector.

“The government does have a choice. Use the budget to outline the bold strategy for jobs and growth that we so desperately need in the north west. Make people feel secure in their jobs and they are more likely to spend.

“Give public sector workers a decent pay rise and more money will flow through tills in local shops and businesses, helping our beleaguered high streets.

“The most damaging thing the government could do is to plough on regardless with its reckless anti-growth, no hope, cuts strategy.”

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk