Long-term unemployed in the UK has doubled in 10 years
The number of long-term unemployed in the UK has doubled to over 200,000 in the last 10 years according to the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The TUC has been very critical of the jobseekers allowance which pays out £64.30 a week, which is actually less than the poverty line in the UK. The fact that the number of long-term unemployed is continuing to rise is another major concern for the UK government and the TUC - something which will need to be addressed in the short to medium term.
While the overall unemployment figure in the UK continues to hover around the 2.5 million mark, with some suggesting it will fall back in early 2010 and other suggesting it has yet to peak, it is more the long-term unemployed which are causing major problems. Due to the credit crunch, and the growing number of young people unable to find employment, we are in danger of creating another generation who will depend on state benefits for the majority of their lives. Not only is this expensive for the government but it is also detrimental to the financial well-being and often the health of those involved.
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