BRUM "SECOND WORST" CITY FOR DOLE QUEUES

13-12-2007

Birmingham’s unemployment rate is the second highest of any major city in the country – despite a small decrease over the last month. It's more than twice as high as the UK average, while in some parts of the city almost one in four adults is out of work.

There is some encouragement to be taken from the fact that in October Brum had the worst figure among the UK’s eight “core cities”.

At least there’s been some improvement since then - with the month on month rate declining 0.4% - meaning that Liverpool now has the unenviable title of the nation's jobless capital.

That’s about the end of the good news though.

Unemployment nationally in November averaged 3.0%, but in Birmingham it’s 8.3%.

In some parts of the city, more than in one in five of the adult population is out of work – while in Aston it’s 23.3% and Washwood Heath 23.1%.

Across the West Midlands as whole it was a brighter picture, with an average unemployment rate of just 4%.

To check the figures for yourself, click here

Why is Birmingham's unemployment rate so high?

And what can be done about it?

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