Unemployment in UK seaside resorts is growing despite increase in holidaymakers
David Woods, 21 August 2009
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Unemployment is increasing in seaside resorts despite the rise in holidaymakers taking a 'staycation'.
According to the Office for National Statistics and the TUC, in Bournemouth unemployment levels have grown by 130% since July 2008, compared with a national increase of 81%. In Weston-super-Mare the rise comes in at 122% and in South Dorset the figure is 113%.
In Southend the claimant unemployment rate is 5.9% (up 2.6 percentage points on the year), in Harwich (which includes Clacton-on-Sea) the rate is 5.3% (up 2.3 percentage points on the year), and in North Thanet (which includes Margate and Herne Bay) the rate is 5.2%(up 2.1 percentage points).
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Millions of people are opting to save money during the downturn and have rediscovered what great holidays you can have in the UK.
"But unemployment is at crisis level in many of our best-loved traditional English holiday destinations.
"We should welcome any signs of economic recovery, but they are very shallow. The economy remains in deep trouble with unemployment still set to carry on rising all through next year.
"Unemployment remains a national emergency. Fighting it, particularly among young people, should be number one priority. Public spending cuts are the last thing we need, and run the risk of sending the economy into an even more serious decline."
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