Unemployment rise hits young people

Wednesday August 12, 2009

Unemployment is spiralling at an alarming rate in the borough as the recession deepens.

Latest figures show that jobless rates have more than doubled in some areas over the past year, with Fulham residents among the hardest hit.

More young people are also joining dole queues, and claimants under the age of 25 now make up a fifth of the total number of unemployed.

The borough's jobless rate jumped by nearly two-thirds from June 2008 to June 2009 according to figures from the Office of National Statistics, rising to 4.2 per cent from a previous 2.6 per cent.

Several parts of Fulham weathered an increase of more than 100 per cent in the number of people claiming jobseekers' allowance. Munster ward suffered a 124 per cent hike and Sands End saw a 120 per cent rise.

But while Fulham experienced the greatest change in jobless rates, northern reaches of the borough continue to have the highest unemployment levels.

Wormholt and White City wards had 6.3 per cent unemployed, compared with 1.9 per cent in Fulham wards such as Palace Riverside.

Almost 21 per cent of jobless people in Hammersmith & Fulham were searching for sales and customer service jobs in June, but retail jobs accounted for just 3.4 per cent of Jobcentre Plus vacancies, while hotel and restaurant jobs made up a mere two per cent.

Overall job vacancies fell by 40 per cent in the six months leading up to June 2009, compared with the same six-month period a year earlier.

H&F Council leader Stephen Greenhalgh said: "These latest unemployment figures are depressing and reflect the current national economic climate.

"I am concerned that the recession is hitting parts of the borough especially hard and that unemployment is growing faster among certain groups - especially the young."

With the support of Job Centre Plus and Ealing, Hammersmith and West London College, the council is opening a Work Zone offering employment advice and opportunities as part of the new Shepherds Bush Library which opens at Westfield London on September 1.

Council bosses also say that they have successfully bid for government funds to create 80 starter jobs in the community, while also launching a new apprenticeship scheme for young people.

Cllr Greenhalgh added: "The council is doing what we can to help.

"Our focus has been to ensure that people have access to the best possible financial, legal or employment advice while deliver the best possible services at the lowest possible cost."