Mayor 'must do more for jobless'

The number of Londoners claiming Jobseekers Allowance rose by 65%

London's mayor must use his powers more effectively to help Londoners back into work, a report has said.

The number of Londoners claiming Jobseekers Allowance rose by 65% between July 2008 and July 2009 to 219,000, the London Assembly found.

It said the mayor had not used new powers to deploy London's £635m adult skills budget effectively.

The mayor's spokeswoman said he had launched a £23m programme to support and train 20,000 unemployed Londoners.

The latest figures show there are currently 367,000 people unemployed in London.

Mr Johnson said: "It is the people of London that enable this city to thrive during the tough times."

'Little progress'

The London Assembly report said there was a consensus about what needed to be done but "little progress" had been made.

Dee Doocey, chairman of the assembly's economic development committee, said: "The recession has really taken its toll and the mayor is uniquely placed to help unemployed Londoners.

"The mayor must use his new powers to get organisations working together to make skills training more available."

She added that Mr Johnson had taken "some positive steps" but "on the whole, progress to reform skills and employment services has been disappointing".

The report also found a shortage of Londoners with the skills required to join managerial and professional occupations.

The mayor's spokeswoman said his Economic Recovery Action Plan details £3bn of measures to help Londoners get through the recession.

These include a website to support graduate job-hunters and a commitment to provide at least 1,000 apprenticeships per year until 2012.

Mr Johnson said: "Our renowned resilience is based on the Londoners that have kept the capital's businesses, small and large, running.

"The most important thing we can do is continue to support and champion them in every possible way."