§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Employment what increases there have been in the number of vacancies per annum advertised in jobcentres since 1974.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the information available relates to the number of vacancies notified to jobcentres. The great majority of such vacancies are displayed in self-service. The table below shows the number of vacancies notified to jobcentres each year since 1975, the increase each year and the number of jobcentres open at the mid-point in each year. Information about 1974 is not readily available.
Year Number of vacancies notified to jobcentres Increase onon previousyear Number ofjobcentresopen on30 June 1975 354,000 — 97 1976 678,000 324,000 208 1977 1,097,000 419,000 326 1978 1,621,000 524,000 461 For certain months in each of the years 1975 to 1977 precise figures are not available because of industrial action by certain staff in the Department of Employment Group, and so estimates have been used for these years. The 1978 figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he has considered taking to increase the number of vacancies advertised at jobcentres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. GoldingI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it has been running both national and local press campaigns aimed at increasing the awareness of jobcentres amongst employers. In addition, managers and employment advisers are given special training to enable them to carry out a systematic marketing programme to obtain a greater range and number of vacancies for display in jobcentres.