MORE than 9,000 people in the South West are set to spend their second Christmas in a row on the dole.
According to TUC research, the number of unemployed spending Christmas out of work for the second time is even higher.
The9,375 figure includes only those claiming jobseekers but the International Labour Organisation suggests the number is actually37,264, when taking into account different benefit situations.
There was also a rise in youth long-term unemployment last month (November).
TUC regional secretary Nigel Costley said: "If the Government's work programme for long-term unemployment performed as well as it said it was going to, there would be far fewer people facing a second Christmas on the dole."
