Unemployment figures show regional inequality

Unemployment nationally is down but not on the Fylde coast

The Office for National Statistics said in the Blackpool North and Cleveleys constituency, 1,645 people claimed Jobseekers Allowance or Universal Credit in December, up 0.2 per cent on the same month last year.

Blackpool South had 2,325 claimants up 0.2 per cent, Fylde had 700, up 0.1 per cent, Lancaster and Fleetwood had 1.195, up 0.3 per cent and Wyre had 390 with no change.

In the North West - 143,000, were unemployed down 15,000, on the previous quarter a rate of 4.0 per cent.

Nationally, the number of people in work has reached a record high amid strong demand for workers. There were just over 32.2 million people in employment in the three months to November, an increase of 102,000 on the previous quarter and the biggest total since records began in 1971.

Average earnings increased by 2.5 per cent in the year to November. Inflation is 3 per cent.

Blackpool South Labour MP Gordon Marsden has said the steadily creeping unemployment growth means the Fylde coast and wider county is becoming a bigger and bigger black hole.

He was speaking following the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, which showed that despite record numbers of people in work nationally, the county is falling behind.

He said the figures were fuelled by the South East and London and highlighted regional inequality.

He said: “I fear there will be more bad news when we see the shake out of the Carillion failure. Across Lancashire there are many companies hit from the supply chain who are owed a lot of money.

Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey, said: “We had a record-breaking 2017 for employment, and I’m delighted to see this trend continue as we enter the new year.

“The number of people in work is at an all-time high and the unemployment rate has not been this low for over 40 years.”