City ‘one of hardest hit by Covid’

BIRMINGHAM’S economy has been one of the hardest hit areas by coronavirus, according to a new study.

Fresh research has shown as many as a tenth of adults are claiming unemployment benefits as the Covid-19 crisis continues.

According to analysis of the latest official jobs market figures by thinktank Centre for Cities, Birmingham has the third highest rate of unemployment in the UK.

Blackpool topped the study with with 9.9 per cent followed by Hull and then Birmingham at 9.8 per cent.

Analysis by the leading organisation however, along with the Campaign group, Communities in Charge, say that unemployment rising across the country suggests areas that were struggling before the pandemic have been the hardest hit. Nationally, unemployment rose fastest in places close to big airports such as Crawley near Gatwick, Slough near Heathrow, and Luton which could be an indicator of the thousands of aviation and airport jobs at risk. More than 180,000 job losses have been tracked by the PA news agency since the start of lockdown in March.

Pub chain Wetherspoon plans to cut up to 450 of its 1,000 jobs at six airports across the UK, it has disclosed in a letter to its staff.

It comes as Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin said any additional measures, including a rumoured three-week mini lockdown, would be “even more devastating” for his industry. His pubs and hotels employ 43,000 across the UK.

Last week Wetherspoons announced it was cutting prices on all food and drinks for one day only – today – as part of Tax Equality Day.