Shropshire Star comment: Concern over rise in jobless
While there has been plenty of good news regarding the West Midlands economy over the last year, unemployment rates continue to be cause for concern.
Across the UK the unemployment figure has fallen again over the last three months, with the number of people in work now standing at a record 32.5 million.
At the same time, wage growth has outstripped inflation for the ninth consecutive month, with regular pay up 3.3 per cent – the fastest growth recorded in nearly a decade.
While nationally the picture is looking good, it is less rosy in the West Midlands, where the number of people out of work went up by 16,000 in the three months to October, and now stands at 150,000. So while the Government is busy banging the drum about the ‘enduring strength’ of our jobs market, the claim’s main focus seems to be areas south of the Watford Gap.
Meanwhile, the vast pile of research warning what a bad Brexit will do to the economy and jobs market continues to grow by the day.
See also:
According to experts at the University of Sussex, a ‘no deal’ Brexit will cost the West Midlands 60,000 jobs, while a softer Brexit will see a loss of 30,000 jobs. Cynics will say – with some justification – this is merely the latest scare story from a bunch of pro-Remain academics.
However, it is impossible to ignore the huge volume of reports warning of pending disaster if the Government fails to get Brexit right.
And let’s face it, any hopes for a seamless and successful departure from the EU disappeared into the sunset long ago under Theresa May’s flapping regime.
The Prime Minister’s decision to delay the Commons vote on her Brexit deal was seriously flawed.
Arguably the biggest problem with it is what the added uncertainty will do to the economy in areas such as the West Midlands.
A buoyant jobs market is an essential ingredient of any growing economy.
The West Midlands has only recently emerged from under the shadows of years of stagnation borne out of underinvestment.
The very last thing we need now is the Government’s failings over Brexit to put us on the back foot once again.
