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Official figures have shown that 110 people in North Wales applied for a single job as a binman, while more than 100 chased a position as an apprentice electrician.

Statistics released after a Freedom of Information request show Denbighshire had received 138 applications for a £20,000 position as a family support worker while 110 went for a refuse and recycling operative with a £13,189 wage.

According to the Daily Post, single jobs in street cleaning and refuse collection services at Wrexham and Denbighshire councils saw dozens of applications received.

Unison said this highlighted that “more people were chasing fewer jobs” but warned the situation was going to escalate as tougher cuts are set to be imposed.

Regional coordinator Jeff Edkins said the cuts so far will seem “trivial” compared with what is to come over the next two years.

“The figures highlight that there are more and more people chasing fewer and fewer jobs at councils but this is only going to get worse when more severe cuts come in next year.

“Services and jobs are going to disappear, the cuts we have had so far will seem trivial compared with the cuts that will have to be made.

“Services that people rely on and use will disappear.

“We are talking about 1-4% cash cuts but when you take in inflation that could be a real term cut of 7%. This is worse than anything we have had so far.

“I am usually an optimist but I feel very pessimistic about the future.

“Everything is already cut to the bone but more will have to go. This will see services closed, things like libraries and day centres.”

Over in Wrexham there were 105 applicants for an apprentice electrician role and 100 for a temporary job as a street cleaner, with a £16,000 salary.

On Anglesey the highest number of applications over the last 12 months came for a £19,000 housing support officer, with 60 applications.

In rural Powys recruiters were suffering the reverse problem - with no applicants at all for around 40 posts at the council.

The roles included care worker jobs, gardeners, and teaching positions.

Chris Ruane, MP for Vale of Clwyd, said: “It just goes to show how difficult it is for people to get a job these days. And the coalition government’s crass, ideological demonising of those that have the misfortune to be unemployed is a disgrace. People need help to find work but there also need to be the jobs for them to look for.”

Last month the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned the UK Government’s deficit reduction plan means the Welsh Government faces at least four more years of budget cuts on top of those already delivered over the three years since 2010–11.