BRUM, WOLVO DOLE QUEUES LENGTHEN

20-03-2008

Unemployment in Birmingham rose last month and the city retains its unenviable position as the second worst dole blackspot among Britain’s major cities. There were also more claimants for Jobseeker's Allowance in Wolverhampton.

According to figures released by The Office of National Statistics, in February both the seasonally adjusted and unadjusted (ie actual) numbers rose when compared to January – although there is some consolation in the fact that year on year, unemployment is down.

Whichever way you cut it, though, more than 8% of the working population in the city is out of work – and the situation worsened last month in 31 out of 40 wards.

Of England’s nine core cities, only Liverpool has worst unemployment than Birmingham.

Wolverhampton also saw an increase in claimants, although the West Midlands as a whole fares rather better with a 4.1% unemployment rate compared to Birmingham’s 8.3% - the UK average is 3.1%.