London unemployed fighting for 'one job between 30'

More than 30 unemployed people are chasing every job vacancy in parts of London, according to a study today.

The worst-hit area of the capital was Hackney, where there are 31 unemployed for every advertised job, and Lewisham, where there are 18. Across the South-East the figure was 16 but the average was four across the country.

Private firms and the public sector were already being "poisoned" by spending cuts, which union Unison, which carried out the survey, warned would swell dole queues and lead to mass, long-term unemployment.

Unison said its research spelt "danger" for the economy and undermined hopes for a recovery, even before Wednesday's comprehensive spending review, which is expected to lead to huge job losses.

General secretary Dave Prentis said: "The coalition has got it wrong. By only having a strategy for cuts, it has no plans for growth and recovery. Their public spending cuts are poisoning the private sector and condemning the country to widespread, long-term unemployment and low growth.

"This means misery for millions of families and for taxpayers who will be left to pick up the long-term bill.

"Even now, before the drastic spending cuts have hit home, there are not enough jobs to go around. On average, there are more than four unemployed people for every vacant job across the country.

"No sector is safe from the Chancellor's axe. Despite his claims, there will be no refuge in the private sector for the 725,000 public service workers who face losing their jobs. Private industry will be suffering too, with more than half a million jobs set to go because of the cuts."