Employers given training incentive

Companies will be given £2,500 for every individual they train who had been unemployed for more than six months.

Prime minister Gordon Brown also pledged help for those unemployed for three months or more, including extensive job interview training.

"We cannot always prevent people losing their jobs but we can help people finding their next jobs," he said.

He highlighted growing sectors such as environmental technology, advanced manufacturing, healthcare and education as those particularly in need of additional skills.