Posted by Ben | Posted in The Seaside | Posted on 21-08-2009
Tags: unemployment
New figures out this week have shown a steep incline in unemployment levels in some of Britains once thriving seaside resorts.
Included in the worst hit leaderboard are BHP HQ neighbours Clacton-on-Sea and Southend, both located on the Essex coastline, which have each seen unemployment figures soar by over 70% since last summer. It’s a worrying time for anyone living in these areas, especially school leavers. We asked a local known as Adam what he thought of the situation:
Well, you know, like, I’ve just left school and that and can’t get a job nowhere. I’ve tried McDonalds and KFC and stuff, like, but nobody wants me cuz I’ve got no GCSE’s like. I writ some CV things and took ‘em round the shops like but nah got nothing back mate. It’s all just bo@!%$ks.
Adam ensured us his lack of employment was nothing to do with his apparent illiteracy but more due to the current crisis gripping the worlds financial markets. Either way, times are bleak for those living in these once-bustling coastal regions, with Weston-super-Mare clocking in with a massive rise of 122% in unemployment since the same period 12 months ago.
Signs of an economic recovery were described as “very shallow” by Brendan Barber, the general secretary of the TUC after viewing the latest unempoyment figures. He was also keen to stress that public services should be safeguarded to nurse those worse hit areas through the current recession.