unemployed

Government apology for coma woman told to find work

Fri, 28/02/2014 - 13:24 -- nick

The government has apologised for a letter sent to a woman in a coma telling her to attend "intensive job-focused activity".

The letter, written by Iain Duncan Smith's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), was received by the family of Sheila Holt.

Ms Holt had been suffering from physical and mental health problems and had fallen into a coma in December, her family informing the DWP and SEETEC, the organisation providing job-focused activity, at that time.

Real pay down 8% since 2008 - why workless can't afford jobs

Thu, 27/02/2014 - 14:25 -- nick

Real earnings have fallen by 8% since the start of the recession in 2008 according to an influential survey of pay and work.

This shock finding was revealed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today, helping to show why unemployed people often cannot afford to take the jobs they are offered.

It also shows why those in work can resent unemployed people - they have been getting poorer for so long that the idea of a benefit cap set at the level of average earnings appears to be fair.

Weekly jobs board - apprenticeships in engineering, broadcasting and IT

Thu, 27/02/2014 - 13:26 -- nick

Welcome to this week's jobs board, the place to come for your new work opportunity.

It is still tough to get work in many areas of the country, so we hope this information can help.

The board includes opportunities at all levels and across the country, in sectors including engineering, broadcasting and IT, so click on the links to find out more.

The pick of this week's board includes:

Benefit cuts bring mental health problems, need lottery help

Wed, 26/02/2014 - 14:03 -- nick

The government's benefit cuts are so damaging to the wellbeing of claimants that the national lottery is funding support for those who suffer mental health problems as a result.

The Big Lottery Fund will support Oxfordshire MIND to provide its Benefits for Better Mental Health (BBMH) project, which has been helping people access benefits since 2008.

The £336,000 grant has been given to help the organisation deal with a big increase in workload since the coalition started its war on benefit claimants.

DWP universal credit watch - two more areas down, on track for 2030 target

Mon, 24/02/2014 - 13:19 -- nick

The Department for Work and Pensions has announced its latest universal credit rollout.

Two new areas will implement the scheme from today - the unemployment hotspots of Bath and Harrogate.

It is only up and running in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Hammersmith, Inverness and Rugby as the IT system has consistently failed to deliver, with Iain Duncan Smith criticised for his incompetent management of it.

Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud encouraged this foot-dragging rollout, saying:

"We are introducing Universal Credit in a slow, safe and controlled way."

Sanction numbers rose to record high of 900,000 in 2013

Thu, 20/02/2014 - 12:40 -- nick

The number of benefit sanctions rose to a record 897,690 in the year to September, the Department for Work and Pensions has revealed.

Sanctions see claimants having their benefits removed for four weeks the first time they are applied, and can stretch to years subsequently.

In the final year of Labour government in 2009-10, 500,000 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) sanctions were handed out -itself a record number - compared to 874,850 last year.

Weekly jobs board - work available in catering, retail and banking

Thu, 20/02/2014 - 11:29 -- nick

Yesterday's unemployment figures show there is still a big problem in getting work, with many more people registering as self-employed without much hope of getting business than getting real employment.

Today's jobs board may be able to help - it includes jobs in catering, retail, banking and other sectors.

Click on the links below to make an application:

Unemployment falls slow down and self-employment disguises failings

Wed, 19/02/2014 - 13:47 -- nick

Recent falls in unemployment showed a slowdown in the last three months, with the rate now at 7.2% or 2.34 million people.

125,000 fewer people were unemployed in October to December, but the fall was slower than in recent months, suggesting that the economic recovery may be losing steam.

There are now 30.15 million people in work, 72.1% of the working age population.

Unlike in recent months, the employment number did not set a new record, further proof that growth may be slowing.

Quarter of graduates still unemployed after a year

Tue, 18/02/2014 - 13:12 -- nick

A quarter of graduates are still unemployed a year after leaving university.

A survey by Total Jobs also showed that two in five are unemployed after six months.

There has been a huge expansion in the number of young people studying at university over the last twenty years, but 44% of recent graduates now regret not having chosen a vocational route instead.

Total Jobs asked 676 people and found that a third were applying for at least 20 jobs each month.

Wolverhampton Council to axe 2,000 jobs as austerity bites

Tue, 18/02/2014 - 12:30 -- nick

Wolverhampton City Council is to cut 2,000 jobs, it has revealed.

The number represents one in every five people it employs, but the local authority says it has to make this tough decision due to the coalition's cut to its grant.

Although local government can raise money directly through council tax, the central grant from Westminster forms the majority of its income.

Andrew Johnson, cabinet member for resources, said: "We have lost a huge proportion of the main source of our income, which is the grant from the government. That's why we have to make these job cuts.

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