Classless recession 'a myth'
Classless recession 'a myth'
Tuesday 8th September 2009
The recession has hit low-skilled workers with low-paid jobs worse than any other part of the country's workforce, unions have warned.Between July 2008 and July 2009 the retail sector was the worst affected by the downturn, with 12.7 per cent of workers out of work.
That compares to 2.3 per cent for those in professional occupations, revealing the full extent of the recession's impact on the low-paid.
"It's the low-skilled and the low-paid who are bearing the brunt of this recession. And they are certainly not seeing any recovery," TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said.
"With unemployment set to increase throughout the whole of next year, and possibly beyond, tackling joblessness must be government's number one priority."
Mr Barber called on the government to increase the standard rate of jobseekers' allowance (JSA).
"It's clear many people are spending a long time on the dole, and £64.30 a week is not enough to get through the week. Increasing JSA by as little as £10 a week would make a real difference to millions of families.
"The government must do all it can to tackle joblessness and the permanent scar of long-term unemployment."
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