Greater Manchester unemployment highest in nearly four years

Unemployment in Greater Manchester is at its highest in nearly four years.

Joblessness increased for the third consecutive month in March and is now 11% higher than it was before the EU referendum.

Among people aged over 50, unemployment is now nearly 20% higher, but in March the biggest rise was among young people.

Last month’s report showed unemployment had remained relatively stable until January this year, which saw a spike in numbers. This month’s data shows that trend continuing in March.

There are now 4,300 more people signing on for unemployment benefits than at the start of the year. That’s a rise of 9% that puts figures at a 44-month high.

The highest rise in March was among young people aged 16 to 24, although numbers in that age bracket are still slightly lower than pre-Brexit figures.

There has been a significant rise in unemployment among older people, with 1,825 more people claiming either Jobseekers Allowance or the unemployment element of Universal Credit. That’s a rise of 19.4%.

In the 25 to 49 age group, joblessness has risen 13% since June 2016.

The report does not draw direct conclusions about the spike, but it points to wider economic uncertainty across the country.

The picture across Greater Manchester is broadly in line with the rest of the country, and highlights the construction industry as an area of continued strong performance.

It reports ‘worsening household finances’ and suggests the unemployment rise, combined with weak growth and uncertainty over Brexit negotiations, is causing officials some concern.