THERE are up to 16 unemployed people for every vacancy advertised in the North- East, figures have revealed.

Trade unions have warned that Government plans to drastically reduce public sector spending could send jobless figures through the roof.

Consultants PricewaterhouseCoopers last week warned that the cuts could see half-a-million public sector workers out of a job – with the same amount of private sector employees also facing redundancy.

Their research shows that in the North-East there could be 43,000 job losses, some 4.1 per cent of the total jobs in the region.

Trade union Unison today warned that the cost of lost tax revenue and increased unemployment benefits for public sector workers who lose their jobs could total £15bn, and the cost for supporting unemployed private sector workers could be billions more.

Gill Hale, the head of the northern region for Unison, said: “Even now, before the major public spending cuts have hit home, there are more people unemployed in the northern region than jobs to go around.

“Drastic reductions in spending, set to be outlined in the comprehensive spending review, will lay the groundwork for adding upwards of a million more public and private sector workers to the job-loss totals.

“Heavy job losses in the private and public sectors will only lock the northern region into a downward spiral until the much-feared double-dip recession takes hold.

“By only having a strategy for cuts, not growth, the coalition has no strategy for recovery.”

Prospect, the union for professionals, has echoed Unison’s claims, saying the recent cull of quangos will hurt current and future job prospects across the North.

It is calling for an independent analysis of the wider economic, social, cultural and other costs of abolishing each quango.

In addition, it has said the closures of the regional development agencies (RDAs), such as One North East and Yorkshire Forward, should not happen.

Prospect’s general secretary, Paul Noon, said: “These cuts will hit real people doing vital work – whether creating jobs, looking after the environment or keeping local organisations accountable.

“At a time like this, it is truly daft to abolish bodies like the RDAs, which exist to create jobs and support businesses.”

Spending reduction protests

PROTESTS against forthcoming Government cuts were held in Darlington town centre at the weekend.

Saturday saw Darlington Against Cuts, a campaign group involving trade unions and community activists, hold a series of speeches in the town centre demonstrating against the planned reduction in public spending.

The speakers included local trade union officials, community leaders and the town’s MP, Jenny Chapman.

People were invited to sign a petition protesting against the cuts. Pat Buttle, one of the organisers, said: “It’s gone very well – lots of people have shown their support and 170 people signed our pledge for public services.”

Mrs Chapman said: “These cuts will affect everybody in Darlington. The way this Government is going about it, they will do untold damage.

“I’ve spoken to private business people in Darlington and they’re very worried. A lot of their customers are employed in the public sector.”