TUC urges workless household action
28th August 2009
Ministers have been urged to take action to encourage workless households back into employment by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary Brendan Barber.
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics indicated that the number of workless households in the UK rose to 4.8 million between April and June 2009.
Data suggested that the number of children living in workless households also increased, rising by 170,000 to 1.9 million.
The rate was highest in the north-east of England, at 23.2 per cent, while the rate in the east of the country was just 12.2 per cent.
Mr Barber said that the figures show the 'devastating impact that rising unemployment can have on families'.
He said: 'With unemployment continuing to rise sharply, it is vital that the government continues to do more to get people back to work.
'The Future Jobs Fund must continue to be properly resourced and expanded so that more people - including older job seekers - can benefit from it.'