Member Article

Unemployment levels hit 2.67 million

Unemployment across the UK has risen to 2.67 million in the three months to December, according to the Office of National Statistics.

This figure represents a rise of 48,000 during the last quarter of 2011, increasing the unemployment rate to 8.4%. This is the highest rate since 1995.

In the North East unemployment has hit 11.2%, which represents a fall of 4000 over the quarter but a rise of 16,000 over the whole year. The decrease has received a cautious welcome from James Ramsbotham, the chief executive of the NECC, who is encouraging the region not to get caught up in the positive figures.

He commented: “The performance of our regional manufacturers and exporters continues to outstrip the rest of the country and we remain the only region with a positive balance of overseas trade.

“These are all signs that the private sector is slowly recovering from the recession and the impact of the Government’s austerity measures, which saw many companies lose public sector contracts.”

He believes that the Government must now help the region by increasing incentives and reducing red tape.

“It will be some time before the North East fully recovers from the impact of public sector cuts, but today’s news is a small demonstration that we’re moving in the right direction.” He added.

Scott Liversidge, managing partner at Flame Health, believes that despite the high unemployment figures opportunities are opening up in a number of sectors.

He commented: “Research has shown that the number of permanent job placements has risen for the first time in four months which is encouraging.

“Unemployment, as we see from the figures today, still remains far too high in the UK however, there are still sectors creating jobs, including health care, clerical, IT and engineering & construction.”

Mr Liversidge believes that the onus now lies with individuals, to make themselves stand out in any way they can.

“Nothing is going to change overnight in terms of unemployment but these figures will surely push the government to look at ways to incentivize the private sector into creating more jobs.” He added.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .