2011 government data shows that the Rochdale & Oldham Travel-To-Work area had the 8th lowest job density ratio in the UK at just 0.59 the England average is 0.78. This means for every 10 economically active people needing a job less than 6 are available locally. When benefit entitlement reforms were introduced the job density ratio dropped further as large benefit subsidised Oldham demographics lost the left-wing protection of their payments and were told they had to work. Oldham council responded with four costly employment schemes providing in the majority the potential for new low-skilled jobs to accommodate the growing shortfall between job hunters and job availability; these schemes are: the Foxdenton Warehouse Park, Hotel Future, Town Hall Cinema & Hollinwood Old Gas Works.
02/03/2014