Unemployment surges in Birmingham, with Perry Barr hit hardest. Ill health contributes to rising jobless claims
Across Birmingham, unemployment is high, and eight of the UK’s ten worst areas are located there. Ill health is a major contributing factor. Ladywood follows Perry Barr with a 14.7 percent unemployment rate.
Hall Green and Moseley come next, both at 12 percent, followed by Yardley with 11.9 percent unemployment. Bradford West follows with an 11.7 percent rate, while Bradford East shows 11.1 percent. Brent East has 9.6 percent, and East Ham has 9.4 percent unemployment, with these areas having the highest rates outside Birmingham.
These numbers are still going up, and Hall Green, Moseley, and Yardley saw big increases. The government aims for 80 percent employment and plans to help people return to work.
The UK’s employment rate fell in five years, and long-term illness explains much of this decline. About 1.7 million people seek work benefits, with Jobseeker’s Allowance or Universal Credit supporting them. This figure includes 298,000 young adults.
Overall unemployment rose since last year. Changes to Universal Credit may affect this, and these changes might explain Birmingham’s spikes.
The government plans to fix unemployment and will invest £240 million to address the key problems, including ill health. They plan to improve healthcare.
They’re creating a jobs service nationwide that will focus on skills and careers. The government wants to reform welfare and aims for a fairer system. Health and disability benefits revamp arrive soon.
The Shaw Trust highlights economic inactivity, which has risen since 2020. Long-term sickness causes much of this, and more young adults cannot work now due to health. Health significantly impacts people’s jobs.
The West Midlands mayor formed a jobs taskforce to create jobs for everyone. The taskforce will focus on skills and will work to reduce youth unemployment.
A council leader acknowledges the challenge, emphasizing that investments must help all communities. The council will work with regional leaders and will use funding to develop skills, preparing residents for new jobs.