Member Article

Unemployment falls again in Greater Manchester

Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) numbers are down again across Greater Manchester according to new figures from think tank New Economy.

Statistics show that 79,300 people in Manchester are claiming JSA, which is a decrease of 3.8% or 3,200 people when compared with May 2013.

The North West saw a 3.5% fall, while this figure was 3.8% across the whole of Great Britain.

Youth unemployment dropped month on month, down by around 1,000 people to 20,700, while May’s figures demonstrated a 15.3% fall on last year.

Long term JSA claimants also dropped in number, with 600 fewer people who have been out of work for 6 months or more.

Baron Frankal, director of economic strategy at NewEconomy, said: “This month’s JSA figures reveal another solid decrease in claimants, continuing the positive trend of recent months.

“However, we are still, without a doubt, in the midst of a very tricky period for unemployment and face significant short-term challenges, especially as we approach the school leaver and graduation period.

“That said, Greater Manchester continues to take significant steps to secure future jobs for the region, so whilst we still expect a bumpy ride, the long-term plan is taking root, and things like our recent Regional Growth Fund (RGF) bid wins are evidence of that.

“Greater Manchester has won two bids – first of all, securing multi-million pounds worth of investment for development of the local talent pool that will turning scientific research into commercial success; and secondly, through the RGF bid by home shopping giant N Brown, where Greater Manchester’s position on the repatriation of textile manufacture to the UK will support hundreds of textile firms seeking investment for growth.

“These successes mean that Greater Manchester is preparing itself for future job growth, whilst smaller achievements such as today’s decrease in JSA figures help to fuel a fairly optimistic outlook.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .