A TOTAL of 128 jobs are set to be created in Scarborough as part of a new government initiative.
The posts must be filled by young people aged from 18 to 24 who have been out of work for more than 12 months, or for people of any age who have been unemployed for at least a year and live in an identified "hot spot".
Scarborough has six wards co
nsidered to be unemployment hot spots – Eastfield, Castle, Woodlands, Ramshill, Falsgrave and North Bay.
Members of Scarborough Council's cabinet are today recommended to approve an agreement with North Yorkshire County Council to manage the Future Jobs Fund Programme.
Pauline Elliott, the council's head of regeneration and planning, said in a report: "There are high levels of worklessness in the borough, with over 10,000 of the working age population out of work. The problem is most acute in the Scarborough wards of Castle, Woodlands, North Bay and Eastfield.
"Although the rise in unemployment is below the national and sub-regional increases, there has still been a local rise in unemployment of 64 per cent. Significantly, there has been a 40 per cent reduction of notified vacancies to Jobcentre Plus."
The Future Jobs Fund is a £1 billion funding programme, run by the Department of Works and Pensions, aimed at creating 150,000 jobs for long-term unemployed young people.
The positions created must be new jobs, last at least six months, be paid at least at minimum wage, and be for at least 25 hours per week. The fund will contribute a maximum of £6,500 for each post between October 2009 and March 2011.
Mrs Elliott added: "Jobs will be created in key local employment sectors to enable people to gain the skills and experience necessary for long-term employment.
"Ideally, the jobs created will continue beyond the initial six-month funded period, which provides a 100 per cent wage subsidy. However, we recognise this will not always be the case, especially in the present economic climate.
"The proposed management function of the council will ensure that host organisations address the employment barriers of participants and work with Scarborough Job Match. This will enable long-term employment opportunities to be identified for participants at the end of the six-month funded period."
Through the initiative, discussions are already under way to transform the 23-mile Cinder Track, which was the old Scarborough to Whitby rail line.
Environmental charity Groundwork North Yorkshire is currently working on a project proposal to provide a dedicated improvement team for the track over 18 months, which could create 24 jobs.
