THE North-west is one of two regions in the country to suffer a net fall in the number of jobs, claims the Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit. Using figures published by the government's Employment Gazette the unit claims that while the rest of the country had a net jobs increase in the year ending June 1995 the North-west and Scotland suffered a fall. They claim 14,000 full time male jobs and 2,000 full time female jobs disappeared while 4,000 part time male jobs were created and 6,000 part time female jobs were created.

"This means that in total there were 6,000 fewer people in work in the North-west at the end of the period and 16,000 fewer in full time work," states a low pay unit report.

The unit says the figures are even more dramatic because they claim that, on average, it takes two and a half part time jobs to be equal to one full time job.

"Using this calculation there was a loss of 12,000 full time equivalent jobs in the North-west in the year to June 1995," claims the report.

"These figures are dramatic if depressing evidence that the North-west continues to be hard hit by the lack of momentum in the economy," commented Gabrielle Cox, co-ordinator of the Greater Manchester Low Pay Unit.

"It is becoming harder and harder for people to find full time work, and many part time jobs pay very low wages.

"It is no wonder that more people are falling into poverty. Investment in the region's economy is a vital requirement if these trends are to be reversed."

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