YORKSHIRE has lost 60,000 jobs since the start of the recession, according to figures today.
In a report on the eve of the latest official employment figures, the TUC said that the number of people in work in the region had fallen by 2% since December, 2007.
Men were the worst hit with employment down by 4.3% or 57,000. There are now 3,000 fewer females in jobs.
While the national jobs gap has closed by 50,000 since the start of the year, the jobs gap in Yorkshire and Humber had increased – with the number of people in work down by 7,000 since January.
Nationally, there are now 158,000 fewer jobs than there were in December, 2007. The TUC said the total would be almost twice as high but for employment growth in London.
Drawing on figures from the Office for National Statistics, the TUC said employment rates in all UK regions remained below their pre-recession levels.
TUC Yorkshire regional secretary Bill Adams said: “While employment has been more resilient than other parts of our economy, we are still a long way short of returning to our pre-recession health, particularly for men working in the region.
“What’s also worrying is that while the national jobs outlook has shown some improvement in recent months, it’s actually getting worse in Yorkshire and Humber, with thousands fewer people in work.
“And with Yorkshire having a large concentration of public sector employment, people will really suffer from the government’s decision to cull public sector jobs and impose a two-year pay freeze.”
