MP concerned by rise in unemployment

North Dorset MP, Robert Walter expressed concern over the latest unemployment figures, which show the number of Job Seekers Allowance claimants in North Dorset has increased by 10.9% on last month and by 31.4% on this time last year.

These very disappointing figures come at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet following a surge in inflation and rising fuel costs. 

And now that job centres in Wimborne and Shaftesbury have gone, jobseekers are bracing themselves for more and unnecessary difficulties. There is concern over whether the remaining Jobcentre Plus in Blandford will be able to cope with a further rise in demand for services, after a new report produced by the Policy Studies Institute for the Department for Work and Pensions, shows that many jobcentres are struggling to help jobseekers as the workload becomes unmanageable.

The report claims that support for the unemployed has been hampered by staffing, administrative and computer problems in Jobcentre Plus offices which were ill-equipped and unprepared to meet the extra demand for services – a problem that is likely to worsen locally following the recent increase in unemployment.

Bob has said:

“I am extremely disappointed by the latest unemployment figures. North Dorset will be even harder hit because the government has taken away two of our three Job Centres.

When I condemned the Government’s decision to close Job Centres in Shaftesbury and Wimborne I pointed out how important it was that these vital facilities were accessible to everyone.   The latest report confirms my worst fears – that these closures have and will continue to put a huge strain on remaining jobcentres leaving them ill-equipped to cope with the workload.  While the jobcentre in Blandford has done a fantastic job in tough circumstances – there is concern about its ability to continue meeting the rising demand.

 “Now jobseekers will be saddled with the ‘double stress’ of finding a job as well as a jobcentre office to support their search.This is the last thing they need.Job Centre Plus is a vital service that local people need now more than ever, and yet my constituents are being forced to travel long distances to reach one when they could least do with the additional expense.  The tragedy is that the people who need help the most have been abandoned as a result of the Government’s ill-conceived closures.

 “I warned the Government about the effect of these closures but was ignored. Now the people of North Dorset are paying the price.”