Job vacancies plummet in Bedford and Kempston

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Sun 10th May 2009

Job hunting is becoming harder in Bedford and Kempston

It is now twice as difficult to find a job in Bedford and Kempston as it was in December as a 'perfect storm' hits Bedford and Kempston's economy.

Figures uncovered by the Liberal Democrats in parliament show that between December last year and January this year, the number of jobseekers per vacancy has increased by 128 per cent.

In December, there were five jobseekers for every vacancy, but figures just released show that by January this had increased to 11 people per vacancy.

This has been caused by a combination of rising unemployment and a reduction in vacancies caused by the recession.

Henry Vann, Bedford and Kempston parliamentary campaigner for the Liberal Democrats has highlighted figures which said:

"A perfect storm of unemployment and plummeting vacancies is threatening people living in Bedford and Kempston and Gordon Brown's failing Labour Government is simply unable to help.

"Labour has let Bedford and Kempston down. Their VAT con could have been used to create jobs, but instead has resulted in a few luxury items being slightly cheaper whilst having no impact on basic goods.

"Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have produced the best economic recovery programme on offer that will save jobs and businesses in Bedford and Kempston. In any future government, Bedford needs a Liberal Democrat voice.

"The Liberal Democrats have proposed serious, costed proposals to help those most in need, help that the Tories simply won't offer.

"Whilst Gordon Brown makes a new announcement every day on his recession, nothing is announced by the Conservatives except empty and meaningless sound-bites."