Hull North worst hit as unemployment hits 17 year high

Today's unemployment figures showed that the Coalition Government has driven unemployment to a 17 year high, with youth unemployment higher than ever.

Commenting on today's official unemployment statistics, Hull North MP Diana Johnson said: "This is a day of judgement for the Government. These dire figures show 14,701 Hull job seekers chasing 930 local Job Centre Plus vacancies.

"With Hull North having 49.9 applicants for every job, the worst figure in the country, we urgently need a change of direction.

"Labour's five point plan for jobs and growth would get our area moving again. We need to get people back to work and off benefits, or the scar of unemployment will do long term damage to another generation of young people. At the moment we are stuck in a vicious cycle. With more people out of work and on benefits it's much harder to get the deficit down.

"Today's figures follow this week's worrying forecasts for increasing poverty levels hitting especially hard in places like Hull. It shows how vital it is that Hull gets better news soon on keeping existing jobs and apprenticeships at BAE Systems, and the new jobs from Siemens."

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne said: "Today's figures are the clearest proof yet that the Government's decision to cut too far and too fast is hurting - but just not working. Unemployment is soaring, and more young people are out of work than ever before.

"Today Labour summoned the Chancellor to the House of Commons for an all-day debate on jobs and economy. The question he must answer is simple: will he now change course?"

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