THE forecast for UK unemployment figures for the coming year makes worrying reading.

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development the rise in unemployment is set to continue throughout the year before reaching a peak of 2.85m in 2013.

While the job losses may not come as thick and fast as we have seen previously, the fact we are starting from a higher level is bound to exacerbate the situation.

And it is now increasingly difficult to see how the government will be able to balance its aim of getting people off benefits and into work, with the fact that the jobs are just not available.

With the public sector shedding jobs by the tens of thousands and the private sector not creating anything like enough to offset those job losses, this seems a nigh on impossible dream.

The result is unemployment and hence the benefits bill continuing to rise.

One of our main concerns is for our young people leaving education.

With every job application they send off will find themselves competing directly with skilled, experienced workers who are also now looking for work. This will make it increasingly difficult for them to get that first step on the ladder.

And this is where our government should focus its attention.