Soaring unemployment dominates by-election

THE polls close in Bradford West tonight after a by-election battle dominated by the issue of rocketing unemployment.

Long term youth unemployment has trebled in a year, while the number of people on the dole increased by 1,293 to more than 5,500 claimants in the 12 months up to February, the highest increase of any constituency in Yorkshire and four times the national average.

With the election coming so soon after Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget, candidates have debated whether the proposals announced in Whitehall will help those struggling to find jobs, but those working on the ground have said the solutions lie at a much more local level.

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Shakeela Khaliq is a manager at Action for Business Limited, a social enterprise based at the Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham. She said a key problem is the skills drain away from Bradford to London.

Unemployment in general is very high and there are a lot of underlying reasons for that,” she said. “One of the key things we are trying to do is match people’s skills to the right job, equipping them to do the jobs that are here in Bradford.

“The lack of opportunities is quite frustrating for young people, and when we do have graduates there are often no jobs for them so they leave the city. A lot travel south, particularly to London.

“The passion is there, but it is giving them the opportunity that is an issue.”

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Ms Khaliq said experience of a working environment would greatly help those trying to find a job, and believes businesses could work more within communities.

“We need the employers, the businesses, to take a more active role in their communities,” she said. “They could offer volunteer placements and training help, there could also be the development of role models in the community.”

Urban Biz is also a social enterprise with offices in Bradford, offering advice, training and recruitment services.

Strategic director McMillan Serrant said increased corporate social responsibility was needed if the private sector were to fill the void left by public sector cuts.

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“We should be looking at getting business to make a commitment, a legal commitment, to find ways of supporting the jobs for those local to them,” he said. “To help those on benefits, those long term unemployed, to get back to work.”

Bradford Chamber of Commerce President, Stephen Wright, said many firms already worked with community groups, schools and charities, but the burden on small firms through increased red tape could be a deterrent.

“Bradford has had a successful programme running for several years called Be Involved which links business with local community projects,” he said. “It is not always about work experience, but it does involve business putting something back.”

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