New figures have revealed an average of 5.7 people in the High Peak are chasing very job vacancy – the second highest number for the whole of the East Midlands.
The shocking figure, released by public sector union Unison, is more than twice the average for the region as a whole – 2.7.
Only Gedling in Nottinghamshire was shown to have a higher job seeker to vacancy ratio.
The union claims the high figure is due to recent job cuts within the public sector.
Fellow private sector union, GMB, has outlined the fact that between the first quarter of 2010 and the third quarter of 2012 the number of council employees in the High Peak was cut from 333 to 288 – a reduction of 13.5 per cent.
Helen Black, regional secretary for Unison East Midlands, said:“The scale of the ongoing jobs crisis is deeply worrying. Three long years of cuts – with more to come - and still there are not enough jobs to go around.
“As well as laying waste to our public services, cuts have a stranglehold on the private sector.
“The Government does have a choice. Use the budget to outline a bold strategy for jobs and growth. Make people feel secure in their jobs and they are more likely to spend. Give public sector workers a decent pay rise and more money will flow through tills in local shops and businesses, helping our beleaguered high streets. The most damaging thing the Government could do is to plough on regardless with its reckless anti growth, no hope, cuts strategy.”
MP for the High Peak Andrew Bingham, said that although the figures were alarming to look at, they were misleading, saying people often look outside of their own area for work.
“Depending on where they live in the High Peak, people will also look for work in Manchester, Stockport, Macclesfield, Sheffield, and in some cases further afield,” he explained.
“Lots of High Peak residents commute to work as we are so close to so many large conurbations. Naturally I don’t like to see anyone without a job and I am encouraged that the number of people claiming Job seekers Allowance figures in the High Peak have fallen by ten per cent in the last year. In addition youth unemployment in the High Peak is also falling having dropped over 20 per cent in the last year. Even so it is no time to be complacent, the country is still facing huge challenges as we deal with the massive deficit left by the previous Government.”
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