Five new temporary jobcentres have been announced in Merseyside to help cope with an increase in unemployment rates.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is setting up temporary jobcentres during 2021 to deal with increased demand as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The new jobcentres will provide services across the country where they are needed and will increase capacity to provide tailored face-to-face support in a COVID-secure environment and help support more people back into work and progress into new roles.
DWP will review the need for these temporary jobcentres as the economy recovers and social distancing rules are eased.
Liverpool has seen a huge increase in unemployment rates due to the pandemic, with Office for National Statistics data indicating the number of people claiming unemployment benefits in the city has almost doubled since January last year with 8.8% of Liverpool residents aged 16-64 claiming unemployment benefits in November last year as the economic impact of the pandemic continues to hit hard.
A spokesperson for the DWP said: "In response to the pandemic, we are exploring options to take on premises on a temporary basis in parts of the country.
"These would be temporary and in addition to existing premises."
Merseyside has five temporary job centres confirmed by DWP.
- Innovation Park, Edge Lane, L7 9NJ
- Duke Street, L1 5AA
- The Palatine Strand Shopping Centre, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 4SU
- Gregson House, Central Street, St Helens, WA10 1UF
- Eastbank House, Eastbank Street, Southport, PR8 1HE
In the application for the Duke Street temporary centre, submitted to Liverpool council on January 19, representatives for the DWP said "there is currently an urgent need for the Job Centre to be operational as soon as possible."
The application states the new city centre job centre could create 81 full and part time jobs for Liverpool residents and would be a public-facing premises, operating generally by appointment.
Residents contacted the ECHO fearing the plans for the new job centre could mean the closure of the existing facility in St. John's Market.
The DWP told the ECHO they were "exploring options" which would see premises being opened on a "temporary basis" in response to the coronavirus pandemic, this has not yet been announced as an official jobcentre.
