Core cities outside London hit worst by recession
14 Apr 09
Traditional manufacturing and heavy industry areas in northern England, the west Midlands and Scotland have suffered the biggest rises in unemployment during the recession, according to analysis of official figures
The study by the Work Foundation found the biggest rises in the number of people claiming unemployment benefit occurred in “core” cities that had “suffered disproportionately” in previous recessions.
It said: “In terms of the largest rises in total numbers of people claiming job seekers’ allowance comparing February 2008 with February 2009, the recession has impacted most upon large cities outside London.
“Local authority areas that have experienced the biggest jumps in the numbers claiming benefits are the ‘core cities’ of the North, the West Midlands and Scotland, and areas linked with traditional manufacturing and heavy industry.”
The 10 worst-affected cities, in descending order, were Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Hull, Manchester, Bradford, Kirklees, Liverpool and Bristol, the foundation said.
Naomi Clayton, senior researcher at The Work Foundation, said job losses were worst in “the UK’s core cities and areas associated with traditional manufacturing – places which in many cases had yet to recover fully from previous recessions before this one set in.
“Perhaps more revealing, however, are the council areas that have seen the sharpest upward movements in unemployment rates. These tell a story of a more traditional UK recession: some areas which had yet to experience the economic prosperity enjoyed by others are once more showing how vulnerable they are to downturns, especially if dependent on single employers.”