Support for Covid jobless launched as Universal Credit claimants in Peterborough rises

The number of people in Peterborough claiming Universal Credit has continued to rise, according to new figures.
Job Centre Plus.  (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001Job Centre Plus.  (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001
Job Centre Plus. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) SUS-200204-154906001

The claimant count went up by 555 people to 24,433 last month - a rise of 2.3 per cent.

The rate of increase is slightly higher than the 2.2 per cent seen in August.

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Yet the pace of the increase is a lot less than at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown when the number of claimants soared by 30.5 per cent in May.

A Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) spokesman said the rate of increase was now returning to the level before the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

He said: “The numbers of new claimants we are seeing are back to their pre-Covid levels.

“It looks like businesses have largely finished cutting jobs.

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“There was concern about impact the end of the furlough scheme this month would have on employment figures over the next few months but I think that may have been eased by the Chancellor’s new Job Support Scheme.”

Some companies are actively recruiting with internet giant Amazon in Peterborough taking on 300 seasonal workers a week and retailers Homes Bargains and Iceland looking for staff for stores in Bourges Boulevard.

The release of the new figures has been accompanied by the launch of a new national employment programme called Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS).

The venture is dedicated to helping those made jobless due to Covid-19 and is supported by a £238 million investment.

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It will target those out of work for three months with support including specialist advice on how people can move into growing sectors, as well as CV and interview guidance.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Therese Coffey said: “JETS will give recently unemployed people the helping hand they need to get back into work, boosting the prospects of more than a quarter of a million people across Britain.

“Losing their job due to Covid-19 was beyond their control but with this support people can take charge of their future, find a new job and get themselves back on track.

“This is one element of our wider Plan for Jobs which will support people onto the jobs ladder through Kickstart, offer the training needed to pivot into new roles through SWAPs and support people prepare for getting back into work.”

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