According to GMB Union, unemployment has risen to 24% in UK regions.  The union has said this could leave ‘communities in tatters,’ after releasing this latest figure on 24th January. In the West Midlands, the ‘quarterly increase unemployment’ rate was 8%.

Redbrick spoke to a final-year English and Drama student who said, ‘I’ll be graduating in June, and staying on in Birmingham afterwards for further education, and so I’m actively looking for part-time jobs to help fund the cost of living, but I’m really worried that I won’t get employed even on a part-time basis or to fit around my studies.

‘If I can’t find a job, I don’t know what I’ll do, and it’s more than likely that I’ll have to move home or delay my MA for a year whilst I work.’  Regions across the UK have been affected differently by unemployment rates, with the percentage increasing by 24% in the North East, 17% in the South West and 13% in Yorkshire.

GMB Union states that rising unemployment rates stem from ‘wrongheaded austerity policies, a lack of Government investment in jobs and our economy.’  Brexit could also be a determining factor, as ‘a lack of any feasible plan on Brexit will only make the situation worse.’

Other regions have seen unemployment figures rise, with Wales having the lowest percentage of 4% along with the east of England at 5% and the East Midlands at 9%.  Unemployment has reportedly risen in almost every region outside of London and the South East.

According to Trading Economics, in 2018 unemployment rose by 8,000 on the quarter to 1.37 million across the UK. GMB’s General Secretary Tim Roache said, ‘unemployment up by almost 25% in just three months is a horrific rise.’

Roache continued,’ it’s a terrifying statistic but behind the numbers are real people’s lives and families. Thousands of jobs lost mean thousands of people and families wondering how they’re going to pay the bills, it means thousands more at foodbanks.’