Half-price travel for London jobseekers

Boris Johnson has announced a new scheme which entitles unemployed people in London to travel for half-price on buses and trams.

As part of his economic recovery plan, the mayor of the capital said he hopes that these new measures will make it easier for jobseekers to find employment during the recession.

It is intended to help people travel to interviews, libraries and job centres.

There are currently around 150,000 Londoners claiming jobseeker's allowance and Mr Johnson has stated that it is crucial to get them back to work as soon as possible.

He said: There are jobs out there to be done in London.

We need to help people to get those jobs and get them soon. The longer you spend on benefits, the longer you are likely to remain there.

A spokesperson for ClickAJob welcomes the move.

Chasing around for appointments and interviews can cost upwards of 20 a day, he says.

When every penny counts, it can actually mean missing out on opportunities that might otherwise have turned into a real live job.

Sure you can save by using the 'Net - but you need to get noticed, he continues.

With most positions fiercely contested because of the recession, it can actually pay to turn up in person, even if it's not for an interview.

The Recruitment Society believes that to improve their chances of getting a job interview, the unemployed must make sure their CV stands out from the crowd.