There are nine unemployed people for every job vacancy in Salford, we can reveal. The ratio is one of the largest in Greater Manchester and 50 per cent higher than the national average.
This is one of a string of findings in a special Advertiser report.
Official figures also show average salaries of £22,954 are among the lowest in the region, compared to £24,016 across Greater Manchester and £25,931 in Britain.
The statistics also show that more than one in seven people in the city have no qualifications whatsoever.
There are 21,400 people – 14.5 per cent of the population – who have no skills, which compares to the national average of 12.3 per cent. But a report into the local economy suggests things are looking up and highlights Salford as having a ‘key role as a provider of jobs growth’.
The report, compiled for the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, refers to future opportunities presented by MediaCityUK and other regeneration schemes. It also identifies the area as a hotbed for entrepreneurs, meaning it is ‘better placed than many other areas to emerge from the recession relatively strongly’.
Jon Monk, development manager at the Chapel Street Business Group, said: "These figures suggest just how difficult some of the challenges which Salford faces will be during this period of economic hardship.
"The growth in business start-ups is positive and hints at the determined nature of Salford’s entrepreneurs."
But while the study, compiled by the Greater Manchester Commission for the New Economy, reports success among entrepreneurs and an increase in private sector employment, it suggests Salford could be badly hit by government spending cuts due to large numbers employed in the public sector.
There are 25,700 public sector employees based in the city, accounting for more than a fifth of the workforce.
Government data shows there is a stock of about 7,700 businesses in Salford, the majority of which are medium-large sized.
The report also identifies a ‘skills deficit’ with people living in Salford having less qualifications than Greater Manchester as a whole – just 23.4 per cent have an NVQ Level 4 or above.
Council leader John Merry said: "I am encouraged by the fact Salford has been identified as having a ‘key role as a provider of jobs growth’."
Lib Dem leader Coun Norman Owen said massive investment was needed to tackle unemployment, while Conservative leader Coun Karen Garrido said further measures were needed to encourage private sector growth as a vehicle to bring jobs to the city.
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The jobless figure is much higher than the one published, as they get their figures from the jobless that can claim benefits, but what about the jobless that are outside the benefit system, so really you can double this figure, and i cant really see the private sector helping the unemployed in Salford as they dont have any money to invest either and the 50+ year olds who cant get work due to their age as well, what about that subject, Panorama was right with their programme, you are finished at fifty. I was on that programme. and one in seven salfordians have no qualifications ? are they saying that we are thick, i know lots of salfordians with plenty of qualifications and vocational skills, and for the average salary of Salford people being nearly £23k, now thats a joke, it a lot less. have they not seen some of the poverty some are living in, But as always regardless of living conditions, Salford people always stand up and are proud.
Like i said b4 2 many foreigners here taking the jobs and the cheap labour needed by the likes of tesco. Proper paid jobs for our OWN (i can hear the racist calls already).