Women's unemployment highest for 23 years

Wakefield MP Mary Creagh slammed the Tory-led government's economic policy on 14 September following a surge in female and youth unemployment.

The rise in those without jobs is the highest for two years. The number of young people out of work has surged up by 78,000 and it is women who are now being punished worst. The figures are the clearest and starkest evidence yet that the Government’s plan for growth is hurting not helping Britain. Our unemployment is now climbing faster than the Eurozone, Japan and America and we are now losing three times more jobs than we are creating.

In Wakefield, 27% more women are claiming Jobseekers Allowance than a year ago. Youth unemployment has also risen by 18% in the district.

Mary said “Today’s figures show Britain’s women are bearing the brunt of redundancies. Women’s unemployment is now the highest for 23 years. In a year when the Government has cut support for childcare, 32,000 women have chosen to give up on work. That alone has cost us nearly £50 million in lost tax revenue. These figures show that the economic recovery is being choked off by the government’s cuts which go too far and too fast. We are seeing more women out of work in Wakefield, mostly from the public sector, and there are now more 18-24 year olds on benefits than at any point during the recession. With more people losing their jobs and the cost of living rising each month, people are worried that we are could slip back into recession. The government needs to get on with a Plan B before it is too late.”