Debt help likely to soar as unemployment rises

22/12/2009

The number of middle-class professionals seeking out debt advice looks set to rise over the coming months as white collar workers are hit by the economic downturn.

Over the past 12 months, figures have shown that unskilled and skilled workers, particularly those in the construction sector, have been hit the hardest by the recession, with tens of thousands likely to be seeking debt advice after losing their jobs.

Now, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) cited by the Daily Mail has revealed that university-educated professionals, including architects, accountants and lawyers, are now also being affected by the downturn, with growing numbers being made unemployed across all parts of the UK.

The figures point to a 936 per cent increase in the number of architects claiming Jobseekers Allowance over the past year, with this figure standing at 491 per cent and 401 per cent for civil engineers and lawyers respectively.

At the same time, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has warned that employment prospects in the UK are unlikely to improve much over the course of 2010 as economic recovery remains "fragile".

Tags; Job loss,

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