THE number of Colchester residents who have never had a job has jumped by more than 300 per cent in ten years.

Fresh comparison figures released using census data from 2001 and 2011 was released by Colchester Council yesterday.

It shows the number of Colchester residents who have never worked increased by 312.1 per cent over the decade.

The figure, which equates to 437 people, does not compare well to the figures nationwide, where there has been a 150 per cent rise.

In Colchester, the figures also show the number of people who are long-term unemployed rose by 162.1 per cent in the same time frame.

Nationally, that figure is 80 per cent, while in the Essex it is 150 per cent.

Paul Smith, Colchester councillor responsible for business, said the figures were worrying but blamed youth unemployment for the high statistics.

He said: “In 2001, the economic circumstances were certainly different.

“We were in what we now know was boom time.

“I think the people who haven’t worked are mostly young people leaving school and that is something which is proving to be a problem nationally.

“In Colchester, we were starting from a very low base as in 2001, the unemployment rate was very low around here.”

Between 2001 and 2011, Colchester’s population grew by 11 per cent - some 5,000 more than Chelmsford.

The Department for Work and Pensions runs a number of job clubs across the town.

Mr Smith has just approved an application grant for £25,000, to be split between Signpost, which helps people get back into work, and the Colchester Business Enterprise Agency.

Since Census day in 2001, there are almost 10,500 more jobs in Colchester, compared to 2001.

Mr Smith added: “If we had not produced any jobs and grown at the same rate as we have, employment would be way above the national average rather and in trouble, rather than below the national average.”