Elite firms are more likely to hire ‘posh’ graduates than bright members of the working class, a report from The University of London has claimed.

The new research, commissioned by budgeting account provider thinkmoney, shows that an average of 30% of people, or 5 million nationwide, faked illness to skip work in the last 12 months.

Produced by New Economy, who delivers research for Greater Manchester’s economy and prosperity, the survey recorded 500 former students current employment situation between 12-17 months after leaving their course in the summer of 2013.

In March 2012, the government-run body Remploy, which since 1946 had directly employed disabled people in specialised factories, announced the closure of 36 of its 54 factories.

Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams explained that the care system was ‘close to collapse’ in a scathing assessment of current practices.

Jobcentre staff were encouraged to force claimants off benefits by trying to get them to fall foul of the rules in Salford and Rochdale, an ex employee has revealed.

The number of single parents on Jobseeker’s Allowance has almost halved in the last two years

The University of Manchester (43rd), the Co-operative (26th) and Bury Council (62nd) scooped spots in Stonewall’s top 100 gay-friendly places to work in the UK.

Nine out of ten areas across the region saw a decline in unemployment between June 2012/13 and June 2013/14, but the borough of Rochdale recorded an increase of 0.5%, according to the report

Manchester’s job market will continue to flourish according to a Jobcentre Plus boss after new figures showed the North West had the biggest fall in unemployment across the UK.

A bizarre health and safety job advert has been topped – by the wannabe Manchester noise technicians who want to fill the position.