UNEMPLOYMENT in Redditch has risen, in contrast to the regional trend, the latest figure show
Figures released on Wednesday by the Department of Work and Pensions put all jobless claimants at 905, an increase of 60, or seven per cent over the same July period last year.
The numbers for 18- to 24-year-olds are even more dramatic, showing a 22 per cent increase over last year to stand at 220.
A spokesman for the DWP said the cause might be some seasonal variations in the figures but acknowledged there had been some redundancies in the town.
However he added that national companies like Asda and Argos had already started their Christmas recruitment campaigns and more jobs would be coming on stream at the Job Centre in Easemore Road as businesses upped their demand for staff for the busy festive season.
Across the West Midlands the latest figures showed a record 2.6 million people in work, an increase of 65,000 over the same period last year.
In neighbouring Bromsgrove and Worcester the unemployment rate stayed broadly steady at 600 and 1,050 claimants respectively, while in Wychavon district the figures showed a slight increase of two per cent to 620.
