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£40million for middle-class jobless

Monday, 9 March 2009

Writes Hazel Cottrell
hazel.cottrell@consumerchoices.co.uk

Are you a newly unemployed manager or professional? Then the government’s new scheme is designed to help you.

The government is launching a multi-million pound scheme to help the increasing number of unemployed middle-class professionals get back into work.

From April, professionals who visit Jobcentres will have access to a personal adviser, group sessions with people in a similar situation and advice on career changes. The government will also enlist specialist recruitment agencies, including Reed, to help people seeking executive posts.

This latest move from the government follows criticism that Jobcentres are not equipped to deal with the increasing number of middle-class jobless.

James Purnell, work and pensions secretary, said people should not worry about the stigma of going to a Jobcentre and this £40million scheme would not put the needs of the middle classes over those more likely to take low-paid jobs.

He told the Independent that “No-one will be getting help that is denied to other people,” and added that “The welfare state is there for everyone, whatever their background.”

In a documentary, Dispatches: The Big Job Hunt, aired in February, ex-business minister Digby Jones revealed that more than a quarter of vacancies advertised at Jobcentres were low-skilled, low-paid posts.

He also wrote in the Mail: “I don’t believe the Jobcentre Plus system is fit for purpose. I worry whether the organisation can cope with the sudden increase in demand and tailor its individual service to the type of unemployed people they are now seeing - graduates, professionals and highly skilled workers.”

The number of unemployed professionals and managers is rising sharply. The number of them receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance almost doubled from 53,000 to 98,000 in the 12 months to January.

Chris Eagle, commercial manager at CreditChoices.co.uk said: “Many people who have recently been made redundant will have no experience of visiting a Jobcentre to find work. It is important that the government does provide adequate help for these people.

“If you are worried about becoming unemployed, make sure you read our guide to redundancy in a recession, which will help you prepare for the worst.”

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