Latest Government figures show that we are still well and truly in the mire.

Worryingly the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance soared by 23,500 last month to reach the highest level since Labour came to power in 1997.The claimant count increased to 1.64 million in January, the worst figure since April 1997.

Meanwhile long-term unemployment, covering those out of work for more than a year, increased by 37,000 in the quarter to December to 663,000, also the highest figure since 1997.

The number of people classed as economically inactive reached a record high of 8.08 million, more than 21% of the working age population. The figure covers students, people looking after a sick relative, or those who have given up looking for work, with records dating back to 1971.

Despite all this unemployment in the latest quarter actually fell slightly by 3,000 to 2.46 million, giving a jobless rate of 7.8%, unchanged from the previous three months.

Unemployment among 18- to 24-year-olds fell by 13,000 in the last three months of 2009 to 725,000, while for 16 to 24-year-olds the total dropped by 13,000 to 923,000.

This Government has failed to respond effectively and expediently to provide adequate support for those worst hit by this recession – and Labour’s ongoing failure to support the young unemployed is storing up numerous problems for the future from that generation.