In a statement, the MP said that latest National Statistics Office figures showed that the number of unemployed had reached 8,339 – an increase of 859 over the previous year.

“The highest band of unemployed – 2,561 – were in the 30 to 44 age bracket. And there are another 1,068 under the age of 20 who are without a job,” he said.

He said that there were also invisible unemployed because if a person had not yet started paying any social security contributions, they would not be able to register for work.

“Unemployment hits all sectors of life, but tends to hit hardest those who are raising families. As a result, 15 per cent of families are living in poverty,” he said.

While the PN was doing what it could to hide the number of unemployed by striking people off the employment registry, said Dr Chircop, it could not continue to deny that there was a big problem with regard to the lack of jobs.

“Those who are affected by unemployment also have to cope with the high cost of living. And other statistics issued by the NSO show that prices have risen substantially,” said Dr Chircop.

“Those which have gone up the most include medicines which have risen in price by about eight per cent. Everything, apart from clothes and shoes (which were in the sales) has gone up in price,” he said.

He also said government was trying to reduce social benefits.

“Families are caught in a trap of unemployment and reduced social benefits. This does not bode well for these people, who are the backbone of our society,” said Dr Chircop.