Unemployment falls across Rotherham borough

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit in Rotherham – which includes Maltby, Dinnington and Mexborough – fell to 4,170 for July, a drop of 415 or nine per cent on the year before.

For people aged 18 to 24, there were 900 people on Jobseeker’s Allowance and Universal Credit, a fall of 190 or 17 per cent from last year.

Nationally, the unemployment rate remained at 4.9 per cent for the April-June period, with unemployment falling by 52,000 to 1.64 million over that time.

Nigel Coleman, of Jobcentre Plus in Rotherham, said that although 4,170 unemployed people is higher in Rotherham than June’s 3,940, the figures are provided year-on-year to show the more general trend than monthly fluctuations would suggest.

He said the overall trend in Rotherham is that unemployment has fallen.

Mr Coleman said: “I think we will probably carry on seeing this general trend, though the numbers may be smaller, until it reaches a stable figure.”

Mr Coleman said Royal Mail was offering 900 Christmas jobs across South Yorkshire with 416 at a pop-up sorting office in Rotherham. These temporary vacancies — which will be shown on the Royal Mail website from September 1 — will range from lasting a couple of weeks to 12 weeks.

Ikea still has vacancies in the area and McDonald’s is working with Jobcentre Plus to provide opportunities.

Capita in Manvers regularly takes on new staff, said Mr Coleman, as the firm fulfils many contracts and Marks and Spencer and the Prince’s Trust are working together on a programme to introduce young people to retail jobs.

Aldi at Bramley is also looking for staff and the NHS is highlighting the range of roles on offer across the organisation which include positions in administration, portering, human resources and many more.

Recruitment agency Provide Education has vacancies in schools, added Mr Coleman.

The Meadowhall Jobs Fair will be held on September 21 in a tent in the car park behind the shopping site’s management centre to accommodate the large numbers of people likely to attend. It is expected to be double the size of last year’s event.

In the Yorkshire and Humber region, employment stands at 2,520,000 for the April to June period, with unemployment falling by 14,000 to 159,000.

Employment minister Damian Hinds said: “These record-breaking figures show that there are more people in work than ever before, which is great news as we build a Britain that works for everybody not just the privileged few.

“There’s good news in Yorkshire and the Humber, where there is a near record of 2.5 million people in work with a record number of women in work as well.

“We’re in a position of strength, but we can’t be complacent which is why we’re pressing ahead with our welfare reforms like Universal Credit to ensure it always pays for people to be in work.

“The job now is to build on this success story so that everybody can benefit from the opportunities that are being created regardless of who they are or where they come from.”

Anna Leach, CBI head of economic analysis and surveys, said: “Ahead of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, the UK’s jobs market remained in rude health, though vacancies have continued to tick down since the beginning of the year.

“The Bank of England was right to act swiftly to shore up confidence and keep money flowing through the economy. But businesses now need the Government to make ambitious decisions in the Autumn Statement that will secure the UK’s economic future as changes to trade, regulation and access to skills loom on the horizon.”