Recession Hit Yorkshire Jobs Hardest

A new study has revealed Yorkshire and The Humber were hit by the biggest increase in unemployment during the recession.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the jobless figures reached a low point in 2005 but every region of the UK saw unemployment rise during the 2008/9 recession.

The biggest increases were in Yorkshire and the Humber and in the West Midlands, while the lowest were in the South East, East of England, London and the South West.

The ONS also published a report showing that Hull, Wolverhampton and Blaenau Gwent have the highest Jobseeker's Allowance rate, all at least 8%.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Today's analysis shows that the labour market went into decline in many parts of the UK well before the recession started.

"It will take time and sustained investment just to get areas of northern England back to their pre-recession position.

"The Government's current regional funding proposals fall well short of meeting this challenge.''