Member Article

North West unemployment rate higher than national average

The North West has the 3rd highest unemployment rates in the country, the regions with the highest rate in Great Britain were the North East, at 8.0%, followed by Wales, at 6.7% and the North West, at 6.5% according to the latest report by the ONS.

The national average unemployment rate for people aged 16 and over for the UK was 5.7%, for the period October to December 2014.

Unemployment rate in the North West increased by 0.2%, London’s unemployment rate increased by the same amount.

There were no large increases in the unemployment rate estimates for the three months to December 2014, compared to the three months to September 2014.

The North West has an employment rate of 70.9%, the third lowest out of the regions, the lowest employment rate in the country was in Wales at 69.2%.

However the report also notes that all regions are showing decreases in the unemployment rate compared with a year ago.

Chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, David Kern, said, “The latest figures highlight the flexibility and resilience of the UK labour market.

“The growth in employment and fall in unemployment are stronger than a month ago and point to improved momentum in the economy after a weaker patch last year.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .