Unemployment figures for December show a rise of Thanet people out of work, up 3.7% – equating to 165 people – on rates for November. This follows a 4.2% rise in unemployment between October and November but is a 0.4% drop -equalling 40 people- on December 2022.
Overall the unemployment rate for the isle stands at 5.6% of the working age population, amounting to 4,600 people. This is the highest rate in the county with Gravesham having the next highest rate at 4.3%. The Kent average is 3.4%.
Thanet has the second highest rate of youth unemployment in the south east with 865 claimants aged between 18 and 24, a rate of 9.4% compared to the Kent average of 5.2% and the national average of 5%. Hastings has the highest youth unemployment rate in the south east at 10%.
In Kent 32,515 people were claiming unemployment benefits in December and the number of people unemployed in Kent in has increased by 2.6% (+830) since the previous month.
Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the new East Thanet constituency, Polly Billington, said: “These figures are a sign of failure and missed opportunities here in Thanet.
“For far too long unemployment figures here have been higher than the rest of the country and Thanet’s youth figures are nearly double the national average.
“Our working age population needs opportunities and skills so they can fulfil their own ambitions and contribute to growing the economy. That means more and better jobs here in Thanet and the training available so they can make the most of what comes along. Most of all we should make work pay.
“Labours green prosperity plan will create jobs in the growing industries of clean and green energy we have already demonstrated we are good at here in Thanet. We need more of that.”
Figures come from Kent County Council using Office for National Statistics data.
Thanet JobCentre Plus
In Thanet a recruitment event organised by JobCentre Plus will take place on January 31 at Margate Caves.
An event earlier this month held at the Salvation Army in Margate was attended by employers such as Mitie, McDonald’s, and the Home Office.
In addition, providers Rethink and National Careers Service offered mental health support, assisting with CVs and careers advice.
Thanet JobCentres recruitment specialist Lily Chiu said: “With the ongoing vacancy drive at Manston, interest in security work remains high. Our upcoming SIA course on 23rd January with Harlow College is fully booked. Due to demand, another course is already in the works for a couple of months’ time. All customers will get an SIA licence and be offered a guaranteed interview with Mitie on completion of the course.
“The care sector remains a key priority as one of the largest growing industries. Following the job fair, Turning Point has offered nine interviews, commenting that they were really impressed with customer engagement.
“On top of this, we have further interviews booked onsite at the jobcentre with CareTech and MyLife Homecare. Encouraging customers to take up social care work can sometimes be difficult, but we have had great successes so far with both companies.
“As a free and local service, we are always looking to collaborate with new employers and have recently started working with Margate Football Club, who are looking for bar and hospitality staff on match days. We are also engaging with Your Leisure to fill leisure assistant and seasonal bay inspector roles”.
Employers interested in attending fortnightly recruitment days can contact Lily Chiu, DWP Recruitment Specialist [email protected] or NicholasGurr, DWP Recruitment Specialist [email protected] to book their place
Job seekers who would like to attend recruitment fairs can do so through their JobCentre coach.
