The Coalition government is honest about unemployment – unlike Labour

“We’re giving a true picture rather than an artificial one.”

Employment Minister Chris Grayling has accused the previous Labour government of hiding the real scale of youth unemployment however the Coalition government will be more honest and transparent about the jobless figures.

Chris Grayling also warned that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is likely to increase in the coming months as people switch from other benefits because of the coalition’s welfare reforms.

New unemployment figures come out on Wednesday and Mr Grayling said that at any one time up to 40,000 young people were on a training scheme under Labour so they did not show up on claimant count figures, even though they were still unemployed.

yesMinister comment
He does make a very valid point!

Unlike under Labour, when around 1.3 million people were on a training scheme and disappeared from the jobless register, under the coalition’s work programme, no-one disappears from the system because they continue to receive Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Mr Grayling said, because people no longer automatically leave JSA when they start a work programme, the number of long-term claimants – especially young people – had inevitably risen.

The Government’s welfare reforms means that those who were previously economically inactive are joining JSA from other benefits and putting “upward pressure” on unemployment.

The Department for Work and Pensions pointed out that more than;

• 300,000 unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds were in full-time education,
• Leaving 730,000 jobless youngsters not in education.

Excluding students, youth unemployment was lower than previous peaks, while many spent only a short time out of work, or were looking after children.

Mr Grayling added that more “stay at home mums” and students were now looking for part-time work