UNEMPLOYMENT figures in Bolton have shot up by 4,000 since the start of the pandemic, it has been revealed.

Bolton Council revealed that last month 12,610 were claiming unemployment related benefits – to 1,805 job vacancies listed in the borough.

Now a consultancy firm has been drafted in to help develop a 10-year growth and economic resilience plant to promote the opportunities available.

The current unemployment rate in the borough has seen a ‘staggering’ leap to 7.2 per cent, up from 4.9 per cent in March 2020. But the figure had improved from April, a year after the start of the pandemic, when the unemployment rate in Bolton was 8.3 per cent.

The figures were revealed at a council meeting.

Consultancy firm Metro Dynamics has recently worked with the council on a "town investment plan" for the government Town’s Fund grant monies recently awarded.

Michelle Horrocks, from the council’s economic development department, said: “Unemployment during the pandemic has affected all groups of people but it continues to affect males and the younger age groups more.

“We have had some improvement in recent months.

“The impact of the pandemic and people who were then furloughed and made redundant is quite staggering.”

She said that Bolton needed the growth and resilience plan as high employment and secure work produce better social outcomes.

Ms Horrocks said the council has launched Business Bolton Connect which is a membership based website to promote opportunities to bid for tenders and  job opportunities.

She added: “We also have just launched the Bolton Town Centre Discover app around shopping local and promoting businesses and offers and also cultural opportunities.

“We are also about to launch district centre apps so each of those will have an app going live on October 22.”

As part of the strategy Bolton Council will work with employers, education settings and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to create opportunities for Bolton people.

Creating a culture of lifelong learning to extend careers, linking school and college curriculums with careers and delivering high quality apprenticeships are also key to the plan.