Unemployment on the rise in the East Midlands

THE number of people out of work in the East Midlands has risen while the country reaches its lowest unemployment rate since 1975.

According to the data released for the region, the number of people currently in work has fallen when compared to three months, a year and two years ago.

Employment in the area has declined, falling from 60.11% to 58.83% compared to three months ago – down from 2,280,213 people in employment at the end of March to 2,234,808 at the end of June.

Nevertheless, over the same period, the number of people registered as out of work fell from 93,534 to 92,899 and the number of people receiving Jobseeker’s allowance in Leices- tershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire fell from 32,245 in June to 32,125 in July.

Despite this reversal of fortune for the East Midlands, overall the country has seen a rise in people who are currently employed.

There are now 338,000 more people in work across the UK, compared to this time last year, the Government has confirmed, with much of the increase attributed ‘workers recruitment higher-skilled jobs’.

The number of people employed nationally is at its highest level since records began in 1971, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Scott Knowles, chief executive at regional business group East Midlands Chamber, said: “Local figures would seem to suggest that inflationary pressures, which had not to to previously significantly manifested themselves, are now beginning to be felt in the East Midlands.

“Rises in the National Living Wage, which send wage-inflation ripples up through pay scales, are making employers think more carefully about recruiting.

“These figures have not come as any great surprise but they do suggest that more needs to be done to aid job creation in the East Midlands, to encourage the creation of sustainable businesses and to help regional employers manage inflationary pressures.”