2009 press releases

11th Feb: Local MP calls on government to act to help jobseekers

Lewes MP Norman Baker has today released figures which show that there are currently SIX TIMES more registered jobseekers than vacancies in the Lewes constituency. There are more than a thousand people claiming jobseekers' allowance in the area, yet only 175 vacancies are listed within the constituency.

The research also shows that unemployment through out the constituency has increased by 80% over the past year, with an additional 484 claimants registered compared to the same period last year.

Unemployment levels in the Lewes constituency at the end of 2008, which stood at 3%, were higher than at the end of any year since 2003.

Lib Dem Norman Baker commented:

"These figures prove what we had all suspected - that the current economic downturn is causing huge problems in communities such as Lewes.

"The fact that unemployment is higher than it has been for several years shows how bad this crisis has become.

"However, the recession is no excuse for the government's lack of action. Ministers have cut the number of staff at job centres at a time when people need their help more than ever.

"The government must do more to ensure that people who need work are able to find it during this period of economic uncertainty."

Notes:

1. The following table shows the number of jobseekers in the Lewes constituency at the end of each calendar year since 2003, and also the level of unemployment in the area.

Date	Number of Claimants	Unemployment (%)
December 2008	1,091	3.0
December 2007	607	1.7
December 2006	758	2.1
December 2005	752	2.1
December 2004	691	1.9
December 2003	725	2.0

2. The number of vacancies listed within the Lewes constituency was accessed through the Jobcentre Plus Labour Market system.

|Home

|Issues

|Press

|Norman and his work

|Useful Links

|Contact Norman

|Site map and Search

|Norman's flickr page

|Norman's Facebook page

|National LibDem site