A STAGGERING one in five households in Basildon have nobody working, new figures have revealed.

The figure shot up last year to about 12,000 – 19.1 per cent of Basildon’s total homes.

This is the highest it has been since records began in 2004.

Senior councillors branded the figures unacceptable, but insist attracting smaller businesses to the borough will get people back into work.

In Southend, 17.7 per cent – about 9,000 – of its homes had no one in work, but the council welcomed this figure as an improvement compared to 2011.

Castle Point has the fewest workless households in south Essex, with 3,000 homes with nobody in employment, which is the lowest in the county.

Phil Turner, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said getting people back into work should be a priority.

He added: “Having 20 per cent of the population not working is not acceptable – both in Basildon and across the country.

“We need to spell it out to people that sitting on benefits is not an option – get up and get to work because handouts are going to be a thing of the past.

“But we shouldn’t chastise these people and instead give them the opportunity to find employment.

“It’s all about getting those businesses into Basildon so we have that opportunity for them.”

Mr Turner, who represents Billericay West, said attracting small businesses to the town was the key to unlocking new jobs.

However, the borough needs to make sure its education attainment levels improve, as firms take this into account before taking the plunge on a new development.