MP for Newcastle upon Tyne North, Catherine McKinnell, has expressed concern following the publication of new unemployment statistics from the charity, Age UK.

The figures show that the number of over-50s seeking employment has risen by 50% over the past year – the highest proportion for a decade. ‘This is a worrying trend for older workers’ commented Ms McKinnell.

‘The fact that the number of unemployed in this group has increased so drastically means that 170,000 over-50s have been unemployed for 12 months or more. During these difficult times people often focus only on the problems facing the young but the issue of unemployment impacts everyone, whatever their age.’