Jobs figures underline need to help business tackle unemployment
Wednesday, 17 Feb 2010
Reacting today’s unemployment figures which showed unemployment in the region rose by 11,000 to 240,000, Yorkshire & Humber Chambers of Commerce President, Richard Wightman, said:
“These figures show that Yorkshire’s labour market is broadly stable and is in better shape than anticipated this time last year. The flexibility shown by many staff and employers across Yorkshire in capping pay and increasing part time work has certainly helped keep more people in work, but their incomes have taken a hit. It will be some time before the labour market recovers even if the economy starts to grow more strongly. There is no room for complacency.”
“We are probably in the ‘eye of the storm’ with the private sector job losses of the last 18 months abating, soon be replaced by inevitable cuts in the public sector whoever wins the election. The private sector will therefore need to drive employment growth in the next year. Government can help firms do this by scrapping the hike in employers national insurance contributions and holding back any further employment legislation. Going ahead with such measures will cost jobs.”
The Chambers most recent Quarterly Economic Survey for Yorkshire & Humber showed that:
- 39% of Yorkshire firms recruited staff in the last quarter.
- 36% of these jobs were part-time – a rise of 9% since the start of the recession.
- 17% of Yorkshire firms increased the size of their workforce. 16% cut jobs. 67% left the size of their workforce unchanged.
The Chambers have published a Business Manifesto ahead of the General Election which includes a range of measures to help businesses grow.