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News

The latest news on unemployment, employment, benefits and the economy. Find out who’s hiring, who’s firing, changes to benefits, the unemployment rate and everything that’s new in our world.

Archbishop calls for living wage for all to make work pay

Mon, 10/02/2014 - 14:10 -- nick

Archbishop John Sentamu has called for all companies to pay the living wage to help alleviate the UK's devastating poverty problem.

Those who only receive the minimum wage - currently £6.31 per hour - have seen a "double squeeze" from rising prices and a lower-than-inflation increase in the rate.

Five million people are paid at this minimum level in Britain.

The living wage is £7.65, and takes account of the real cost of a single person's life.

Only 3,000 hit by benefit cap find work as IDS is exposed

Fri, 07/02/2014 - 12:59 -- nick

The government has released its latest figures on the benefit cap, the regulation which sees all British families limited to a maximum of £26,000 in welfare payments.

Over 36,000 households have been capped since it was introduced, and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is trumpeting its 'success' in this area.

While 8,000 are no longer living under the cap, only 3,250 escaped it by finding work, just 9% of the total.

The others reduced their benefit claims or had other changes in circumstances, like registering as disabled and escpaping that way.

Weekly jobs board - work in hotels, retail, IT and catering

Thu, 06/02/2014 - 12:47 -- nick

Getting work in most areas of the country is still difficult, but the jobs board is here to help.

It includes opportunities across the UK, in hotels, retail, catering and IT, at all levels including entry and managerial.

You can click straight through on the links below if you want to apply online.

Employers include:

Travelodge - the expanding hotel group needs 1,000 staff across the country in roles including managerial, reception, cleaning, catering and housekeeping.

More than half of government cuts still to come

Wed, 05/02/2014 - 13:22 -- nick

More than half of the government's austerity cuts are still ahead, according to a shock new report.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a respected thinktank, says that 60% of planned cuts in public funding are still to come, putting ontold strain on public services.

This follows a decision by Chancellor George Osborne to extend austerity to 2019, which includes the announcement of £12 billion cuts to benefits in addition to the billions detailed before.

Weekly jobs board extra - work available now

Mon, 03/02/2014 - 12:16 -- nick

This week's jobs board may be later than usual - but it includes some big opportunities from around the UK.

If you are interested in graduate work, or jobs in leisure, catering, or retail, read on - there should be something to interest you here.

Companies recruiting at least 50 staff now include:

GLL - the business provides employees to leisure facilities and libraries in the south-east, and needs a range of staff including leisure assistants, sports, fitness and swimming instructors, lifeguards and cleaners.

Coalition chops support for those affected by housing benefit cuts

Thu, 30/01/2014 - 17:14 -- nick

The government has announced a reduction in the support available for those affected by its housing benefit cuts.

This follows on from reductions in previous years and is likely to mean more hardship for unemployed people.

In the year 2013-14, the coalition made £180 million available to councils through the Discretionary Housing Fund, which replaced the far bigger Social Fund.

Europe accuses UK of paying illegally-low benefits

Thu, 30/01/2014 - 13:56 -- nick

The level of Britain's major benefits payments is illegally low, and could be raised in court according to a respected European institution.

UnemployedNet has written before about the UK's poverty-guaranteeing welfare amounts - they are among the lowest in Europe and lower than any comparable country - and the Council of Europe has confirmed this.

Construction sector could create 180,000 jobs in next five years

Wed, 29/01/2014 - 12:18 -- nick

The UK construction industry could create 182,000 jobs over the next five years with new homes pushing demand.

The government's Help to Buy scheme has been increasing house prices, hurting those on low incomes, but it means more homes will be built.

Only 108,000 were completed last year, but both main parties want to accelerate this to ensure more than 200,000 are finished each year.

The new jobs will take the total working in the industry to 2.588 million, still well below the pre-recession peak of 2.863 million.

Shock new report - MPs admit jobcentre sanction targets and call for improvement

Tue, 28/01/2014 - 15:56 -- nick

A shock new report by an influential committee of MPs has finally admitted that jobcentre staff are working to sanction targets, despite previous official denials.

UnemployedNet submitted a Freedom of Information request on this issue last year, and was assured by the head of Jobcentre Plus, Neil Couling, that targets were not being set.

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