Desperate times call for …  

Two weeks ago, when the labour market statistics were published, I didn't have time to write a post about unemployment in Edmonton, but the situation is too dire to ignore so I thought it was necessary to revisit those figures here.From January to December of last year, the total number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in Edmonton increased by 686 or 16%. As has been well-documented, young people aged 18-24 and those aged over 50 are suffering the most from high levels of unemployment. Throughout the course of 2011, the number of 18-24 year-olds who are long-term unemployed (that means claiming JSA for over six months) increased by 126% and the increase for over-50s in the same period who are also long-term unemployed is 45%.In the US, Germany and Japan, unemployment levels are now either flat or falling. The Government is trying to convince people that in the UK too the labour market...