Unemployment up 43pc as crisis hits in the Moorlands

Friday, November 21, 2008, 08:03

MORE than 800 people in the Staffordshire Moorlands are now unemployed, new figures have revealed.

The number of people claiming unemployment in the region went up from 562 to 805 – an increase of more than 43 per cent.

The wave of redundancies at digger giant JCB is being blamed for the massive rise in the numbers of jobless during October.

JCB has factories in Rocester, Cheadle and Uttoxeter, employing dozens of workers from the Moorlands.

Charlotte Atkins, pictured, MP for the Staffordshire Moorlands, said: "I think the increase is a reflection of the redundancies at JCB.

"It's a big increase from a low base. The issue is about global confidence and not a weak local economy.

"I deeply regret any job losses. Percentages can be very misleading as unemployment in the Moorlands is generally low and has been for the last 10 years."

Ms Atkins said she believed the Government was correct in urging global action to overcome the current economic crisis.

She said that training was key to helping people successfully seek employment and the Government was making extra funds available.

The MP added: "Training is the key and we are well served by schools and colleges.

"I am reasonably optimistic about the future.

"We have two excellent high schools in Leek and we have excellent employers such as Britannia Building Society, Lafarge and Leek United Building Society."

But Karen Bradley, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Staffordshire Moorlands, has raised concerns about the latest figures.

She said: "It is very worrying to see such a high percentage increase in the number of people unemployed in the Moorlands.

"And we know that there are many other jobs at risk as our local businesses reduce the working week, lengthen shut-down periods and make workers redundant."

Councillor Philip Atkins, leader of the Conservative group on Staffordshire County Council, said: "These figures are appalling.

"Labour's lack of action in creating and encouraging better paid jobs has left an emphasis on low-paid jobs in Staffordshire, leaving the county with low skills and low value added jobs vulnerable to economic downturn, as October annual figures show.

"While the region's unemployment has increased by 16 per cent over the past year, Staffordshire's unemployment has gone up by an appalling 49 per cent.

"What worries me even more is that these figures were announced before the shock news of JCB making another 400 redundant and around 700 on short time working.

"Staffordshire cannot sustain this unemployment growth."

Midlands TUC regional secretary, Roger McKenzie, said: "We were expecting to see a rise in unemployment this month as trade unions have been dealing with increasing numbers of redundancies.

"With a further 8,000 jobs lost in the Midlands, this is a clear indication that the downturn is beginning to bite.

"Construction, manufacturing and financial services companies are all feeling the effects of the banking crisis," Mr McKenzie added.