11:47am Thursday 18th February 2010
By Neil Skinner
The number of people out of work and claiming benefits in Watford rose sharply last month, denting hopes that the town is finally emerging from recession.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show 1,896 people claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance across the borough in January – up 9.3 per cent from the previous month.
The figure, the highest since 1996, brings to an end four months of effective stagnation, when numbers steadily dropped from an August peak of 1,796 to 1,734 in December.
The number of economically inactive people – those wanting a job but not claiming benefits in the previous four weeks – was last measured in December 2007 at 3,500.
At 3.6 per cent of the working age population, the figure remains below the national average.
Conservative parliamentary candidate Richard Harrington, however, pointed the finger of blame at the Labour Government.
He said: “Watford has taken yet another blow from Gordon Brown’s recession. I was hoping that we would see a significant drop in unemployment but this Government has totally failed to create the jobs in Watford that people desperately want.
“The sad fact of the matter is that these figures barely scratch the surface. It is still the case that around one in ten adults in Watford are utterly dependent on state handouts.”
MP Claire Ward hit back by suggesting Tory plans to “savagely cut public services” would see even more people joining the dole queue.
Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Sal Brinton, meanwhile, stressed her concerns at the number of unemployed 18 to 24-year-olds, which rose from 380 to 440 – the second highest level it had reached since 1996.
She said: “We must do everything we can to ensure that those out of work are getting access to the right advice and help to get them back into a job as soon as possible.”
Roger Gagan, chief executive of the West Herts Chamber of Commerce, moved to place the figures into a seasonal context.
He said: “Traditionally we see temporary retail staff laid off after Christmas because Watford is a big retail town. I also think the snowy weather had a significant impact on the building sector, where some sites closed completely.
“The figures are certainly disappointing but we will have to wait a few more months to see if we are seeing a new trend emerging.”
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