Unemployment falls, but are there really jobs?

In October, there were 4,762 people claiming job seekers allowance in Bolton — 2,829 less than at the same time last year, a fall of 37 per cent.

Of those, there were 1,000 fewer 18 to 24 year olds claiming benefit, 51 per cent fewer than in October, 2013.

Bolton West MP Julie Hilling said the figures released were offering a distorted view of the local picture.

She said: "My view is that people in my constituency are not feeling the economic recovery the Government likes to trumpet.

“And we still don’t know the quality of the jobs being taken.

“There are zero hours contracts, low pay and agency deals, and there is also an increasing number of people working part time when they want to work full time."

Bolton North East MP David Crausby. said: "Of course it’s good news, but there are too many zero hours contracts and too much low pay.

“It’s good people are in work, but what’s more important is that they get full time employment on a decent wage."

Jobcentre Plus employer and partnership manager for Bolton, Julie Wills, said there was a range of initiatives taking place in Bolton to tackled joblessness, including voluntary work experience in a number of sectors.

She said: "We work with employers all the time to try to offer opportunities. We also offer pre-employment training courses and offer apprenticeships.

“There was also a jobs fair at Bolton College in September, attended by more than 1,500 people, and more than 80 employers.”

Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that nationally 694,000 more people are in jobs compared to this time last year. Employment increased by 112,000 over the last three months, with the vast majority coming from people in full-time work, the Government says.

In the North West, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said an average of 13,000 people per week were finding jobs, with 96,000 more people in work compared to this time a year ago.