SOCIAL SECURITY is unwilling to predict the future unemployment figure but does expect it to continue rising.

Minister Mark Dorey said the department’s staff were not economists.

‘We’re not going to make an attempt to predict the situation, but in the current economic situation we don’t expect the figures to get better in the short term,’ said Deputy Dorey (pictured).

‘We know there are a number of licences issued by the Housing Department. The crucial thing, going forward, rather than expecting the government to put measures in place, is for employers to act responsibly and give preference to locals when the locals have the right skills.’

Social Security meets employers this morning to talk about the type of schemes the department has to help, particularly with the long-term unemployed and long-term sick.

This comes as the latest unemployment figure has risen to 411.