THE NUMBER of people claiming jobless benefits in the South has almost doubled in the past year, figures reveal today.

The official claimant count shows that 24,514 people claimed Jobseeker's Allowance across the region in January this year - up by more than 11,000 (84%) on the previous 12 months.

The Department for Work and Pensions said more than 14,000 vacancies were advertised in Jobcentre Plus centres in the South East last month.

Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: "We know times are tough and we need to continue doing all we can to support people who lose their jobs find another as quickly as possible, preventing the long term unemployment which has so scarred communities in the past from taking root.

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"The Prime Minister and I are meeting key national employers today to plan what more we can do to help people back to work and into apprenticeships, including advertising more vacancies through Jobcentre Plus.

"Businesses are already helping thousands of people into work and today we will be committing to helping a further 200,000 more into jobs over the next year."

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Theresa May said: "Unfortunately all we are getting from the Government at the moment is a series of announcements on employment that are more spin than substance, and are just designed to cover up the fact that Gordon Brown's recession policies are not working.

"With thousands of people being made unemployed each week, help is needed now for the unemployed and hard-pressed employers. Instead, all we get from the Prime Minister are more hollow promises."

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions Spokesman Steve Webb said: "Whichever way the Government spins these figures, there are still four unemployed people for every vacancy across the country, and more than 20 in some areas. "These odds are crushing for people who find themselves unemployed for the first time. Ministers must scrap their ineffective VAT cut immediately and reinvest the money in infrastructure projects which will create jobs.

"The Government needs to give people training and support from the very first day of their unemployment, not force them to languish for 12 months on benefits before offering them real help."

Claimant count in the South (January 2009)

Claimants Per cent of population change on year Southampton 5,230 3.3% +2,110 Isle of Wight 3,155 4.0% +1,085 Hampshire 15,059 2.0% +7,446 Salisbury 1,070 1.6% +586 TOTAL 24,514 11,227