Bristol jobseekers outnumber job vacancies by four to one

People claiming unemployment benefit in Bristol outnumber job vacancies by four to one, according to the latest employment data published this week.

With a total of 89,074 claims and just 26,065 vacancies in the South West, the job market looks bleak.

Bristol figures alone show 11,031 people claiming Jobseekers Allowance with just 2,547 vacancies up for grabs.

The analysis from the TUC also found Bristol’s neighbour South Gloucestershire, has 3,526 dole claimants with just 1,935 available jobs.

The figures should be a warning for Tory MP Chris Graying, who is aiming to tackle the long-term sick by axing Incapacity Benefit by 2014.

This would force another 2.5 million potentially disabled people into the dole queue as well.

South West TUC’s Regional Secretary, Nigel Costley is concerned about Government cuts,  including programmes aiding young people who have been unemployed for more than six months back into work and axing job subsides for employers recruiting unemployed people.

He said: “While the economy is slowly emerging from recession, the jobs outlook for millions of people in the South West is still bleak.

“People will be looking to the Chancellor on emergency Budget day to show he understands the UK’s unemployment crisis. Further cuts that fail the fairness test will suggest the crisis is being ignored.”