Employment figures on the up
More people getting into the workplace as job opportunites grow in Scarborough
Scarborough’s unemployment figures have dropped dramatically by 31 per cent compared to this time last year.
Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions show that the Jobseekers Allowance claimant count currently stands at 870, compared to last year’s figure of 1,260.
And of the 870 current claimants, just 140 of them are aged 18 to 24.
Dave Waller, employer and partnership manager for the East Coast, said: “We are still focusing on the younger group with apprenticeships, but we will now be looking at the age group of 25 and over and starting to do a lot of work around that.”
Mr Waller explained that the local figures reflect what is happening nationally, with the employment rate at a record 73.6 per cent. The national unemployment figure has dipped below 1.8 million for the first time since 2008.
Mr Waller says this is an exciting time for employment in Scarborough, with new job opportunities being created by large-scale business developments.
He said: “We have been told there will be 1,000 new jobs created at the potash mine and we are still looking at what those particular skill sets are.
“There will also be construction jobs coming up at the Weaponness site in Scarborough and with the remodelling of the Market Hall.
“We are looking at work experience placements on site, which will hopefully lead to permanent jobs in construction.”
To coincide with this there will be a construction workshop in partnership with Scarborough Jobmatch and the National Careers Service, on a date to be confirmed, covering different career paths within the industry.
Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill said: “This is great news for people in Scarborough and Whitby who want to work hard and get on.
“With nearly three-quarters of a million vacancies advertised across the country and good jobs being created in North Yorkshire, these figures show we are moving towards a society with opportunity and security at its heart.
“The figures show that Britain’s economic plan continues to create jobs and increase pay with the highest rate of employment in our history.
“However, with recent data showing our trading partners’ growth is slowing, we must not be complacent. All this progress would be put at risk if we don’t carry on with our plan to build a resilient economy, delivering the economic security of a country that lives within its means.”
Figures There are 870 claimants compared to
1,260 last year