ALL too often employment statistics are just a figure: a number in our newspapers or on our television screens.

But today the Oxford Mail looks at the human stories behind the statistics.

There are currently nearly 7,000 jobseekers in Oxfordshire. And the wider impact of unemployment will affect many, many more.

For almost every jobseeker there is a wife, a husband, a child or a parent who also has to bear the strain – practically, financially and emotionally.

Those on the dole are frequently derided, patronised, forgotten – or, at worst, despised.

But for all the tabloid headlines about good-for-nothing layabouts with plasma screen televisions claiming benefits, there is also the untold tale of hardworking, humble and dignified folk wanting to pay their way through life.

A tiny proportion of those people feature on today’s front page.

These 12 jobseekers have their own individual reasons for being out of work.

Today they have taken the brave decision to stand up and take their destiny into their own hands by being part of our campaign.

The aims of the We Want to Work campaign are three-fold.

Firstly it is to get these 12 people into jobs, which will help them contribute to society, take them off jobseekers’ allowance, help them support their families and win back their confidence.

Secondly, it is to show other jobseekers that there is help and support out there in our community to find work.

Finally it is also to remind those of us more fortunate about how lucky we are to have jobs.

We hope business leaders, community workers and the public get behind our campaign to support our jobseekers.

And we are confident it won’t be long before our 12 jobseekers find success.