Iain Duncan Smith

[bubblewrap]

If you have been unemployed for so long that these rules affect you then perhaps a dose of responsibility to your self, your family and yes indeed taxpayers is long over due.

TOSH There are not that many jobs to be had.
As I have said before you can apply for as many jobs as you can it's getting one.
I was willing to do most anything but not even an interview.( only about ten replies in three years)
I am not an idle so 'n' so come & look at my allotment.

[pigletwillie]

PW, are you or your company in a position to take on some of these long term unemployed?

its the very fact that for many years they have never had a job, squealing that there are none now does not change the issue, Up until 2008 jobs were around and the long term unemployed being targeted now would have only been unemployed for 7 years, this issue should have been dealt with decades ago but hasnt been and I for one am glad that it finally is.

At this present moment in time my company has two vacancies, one for a shovel driver and one for a carbon footprint champion. The fitting company that contracts in is always after fitters but many dont like having to work hard in sometimes challenging conditions.

[bubblewrap]

its the very fact that for many years they have never had a job, squealing that there are none now does not change the issue, Up until 2008 jobs were around and the long term unemployed being targeted now would have only been unemployed for 7 years, this issue should have been dealt with decades ago but hasnt been and I for one am glad that it finally is.

At this present moment in time my company has two vacancies, one for a shovel driver and one for a carbon footprint champion. The fitting company that contracts in is always after fitters but many dont like having to work hard in sometimes challenging conditions.

I am saying no more Piglet as you and I will never agree.

[Pies]

TOSH There are not that many jobs to be had.

You only need one

According to the ONS there are 5.2 unemployed people for every job vacancy
There are 467,000 job vacancies,why?Surely there are enough unemployed people to fill each and every job so there should be zero jobs available

[bubblewrap]

You only need one

NOT ME I took pension credits in February last year.

[Jeanied]

Pies I think the problem is that the jobs and the applicants are in different parts of the country with different skill sets.
In some areas this is not a problem - in others it is.

[Two_Sheds]

The fitting company that contracts in is always after fitters but many dont like having to work hard in sometimes challenging conditions.

Perhaps the fitting company needs to change its terms & conditions? What's the problem with their staff retention? Poor management? Low wages?

It's not simply about "challenging conditions"... our offshore workers face that every day and there aren't enough jobs for those on the lower rungs, they have 400 applicants for every vacancy at the moment.

Meanwhile the fat cats at the top are creaming off profits, bonuses, free petrol, free 3 hour lunches etc etc.

If the ones at the top pushing paper were to take a more reasonable wage, like the John Lewis example, more apprentices could perhaps be taken on, or the cleaners/caterers could be paid a living wage. Instead of local people, they employ cheaper Eastern European cleaners and caterers who often live in caravans or 5 adults to a flat.

[lindyloo]

pigletwillie; i apologise then- i thought you were inferring that i get of my backside. i have been self-employed for about 12 years, but i only get enough money to survive at about the level as if i was recieving jobseekers. i love what i do, and don't want to change it, but , living at poverty level really does wear you down, hence my sympathies.

did anyone watch the' trillion million horror story' last night? it seemed to me that the experts were of the opinion that the gov.s (past and present) have got it very wrong, and that the new policies are a recipe for disaster.

[murphy99]

I think you will find that the number of vacancies is those being advertised at a particular time. You will also find that there will be hundreds of applications for each position. This number will change as jobs become available and are filled but at any time there needs to be SOME available post otherwise we are in BIG BIG trouble.... can you imagine if the number was zero!!! It probably takes at least 4 weeks to fill a position from it being advertised to filled, in some cases it can take months !

You will also find that some companies advertise the same position every few months as they take on people on a probationary period(probably on the cheap), make them work all hours thinking if they do well they will get kept on and then once their probation is up they re-advertise and get someone else. I know some companies where this is common practice and even the job centres are reluctant to send people. I am aware of one company in this area that does this , they must be jumping for joy at this new 3 strikes policy as they will have an endless stream of people to abuse.

I am not saying this is the norm, but there are such places out there.

You will also find that this time of year there is lots of seasonal work , which although can be a good option for some, they are not long term and may not be a viable option for those with families to consider!

Numbers like these can be misleading, as there is no indication as to the longevity of the position, the quality of the position or the skill levels needed.

I would suggest if a company is having problems recruiting in particular skill areas then they themselves should consider INVESTING in training and take on apprentices... OMG how revolutionary is that!!!!

[OverWyreGrower]

According to the ONS there are 5.2 unemployed people for every job vacancy
There are 467,000 job vacancies,why?Surely there are enough unemployed people to fill each and every job so there should be zero jobs available

Yes, but if the job you are advertising for is a specialist one, and there is no-one who meets the criteria/has the specialist knowledge out there who is currently unemployed; then the vacancy isn't filled.

Or, if someone moves jobs to that vacancy, then although the post is filled, there will still be a vacancy where that person has moved from.

We are about to advertise a highly specialist position (due to a retirement), and I suspect that the majority of applicants will be in employment already, rather than unemployed.

[bubblewrap]

Even if a "job" is for only 2 hours a week it still shows up as a job.
I would like to see how many of these jobs are for at least 30 hours a week?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Even if a "job" is for only 2 hours a week it still shows up as a job.
I would like to see how many of these jobs are for at least 30 hours a week?

Great point.

[Cosmo and Dibs]

One major thing which annoys me is when a high-earner says 'I work hard for my salary' (etc). Does this mean that someone working in B&Q for £12,000 a year does not work hard?

Minumum wage, maximum effort.

[Rhona]

One major thing which annoys me is when a high-earner says 'I work hard for my salary' (etc). Does this mean that someone working in B&Q for £12,000 a year does not work hard?

Of course it doesn't, why should it?

There's grafters and slackers at both ends of the salary scale!

[morverngirl]

IDS, at last someone speaking up for those that are hard working, pay their taxes and get off their back sides to do something. It is those spongers on society that take all they can get and are not willing to give anything back that gets me. There are those who are unemployed through no fault of their own but wish to work then there are "the others",-every kid got a TV in room,electronic game sets each etc, have loads of kids because they could - the state pays and 3 generations without any intention of getting a job, . My husband and I have worked for everything we have got and when we couldn't afford it we had to do without. Both daughters have or will move to find work in their chosen field. It's University fees that annoy me, my daughters got loans, friends have grants, my daughters paying back 20K their friends despite having similar jobs pay back nothing-why? Their earning potential is equal .