Big cities outside the South East have been hardest-hit by the recession, according to new research.
Analysis by the Work Foundation found Birmingham had seen the largest increase as unemployment figures leapt from 33,274 in February 2008 to 45,657 in February 2009 – an increase of 12,383.
Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester have all seen sharp rises in the amount of people claiming unemployment benefit.
The sharp increases ranged from 2% to 7% of the population and, ahead of the Budget, the group warned ministers to look beyond London.
‘Policy-makers ignore how recessions play out locally at their peril,’ said Naomi Clayton, senior researcher at the Work Foundation.
Breaking down England's fiscal devolution plans
David Phillips of the IFS tells LocalGov why England's regional finance reforms are modest by global comparison and what ministers still need to get right.
