Unemployment in Swale up 89% since March
24
Sep
Councillors have being given an update on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on employment in the borough which shows that between March and August the unemployment claimant count rose from 3.6 per cent to 6.8 per cent across Swale.
This varies across the different areas of the borough, with the Sheppey area seeing the highest count of 8.5 percent, followed by Sittingbourne on 7.3 per cent, the Eastern area on 6.1 per cent and the Western area on 4.6 percent.
The data comes from the Office of National Statistics, which shows that local young people between 18 and 24 have the highest unemployment rate of 12.2 per cent, compared to 6.9 per cent for 25-49 year olds and 5.1 per cent for those aged 50 and older.
Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at the council, said:
“These figures show the impact of job losses is being felt across the whole borough, but it is hitting hardest those people who may already have been struggling.
“The rate of unemployment among young people is particularly worrying as it is above both the regional and national averages.
“With the ending of the furlough scheme in the coming weeks, the fear is that there is still worse to come.
“The impact on local people’s jobs, and lives, could be like nothing we’ve seen in recent memory.
“This council will continue to do all it can to help people and businesses through the struggles ahead.
“Services, such as housing are seeing increasing need and we have recently consulted on our economic improvement plan, which set out the things we want to achieve to help give the local economy a boost.
“However, this isn’t something we can deliver by ourselves, and we will need government to support local authorities in meeting the challenges ahead and the support and cooperation of others in both the public and private sectors.
“We must all work together in the best interests of residents and our communities.”
This varies across the different areas of the borough, with the Sheppey area seeing the highest count of 8.5 percent, followed by Sittingbourne on 7.3 per cent, the Eastern area on 6.1 per cent and the Western area on 4.6 percent.
The data comes from the Office of National Statistics, which shows that local young people between 18 and 24 have the highest unemployment rate of 12.2 per cent, compared to 6.9 per cent for 25-49 year olds and 5.1 per cent for those aged 50 and older.
Cllr Monique Bonney, cabinet member for economy and property at the council, said:
“These figures show the impact of job losses is being felt across the whole borough, but it is hitting hardest those people who may already have been struggling.
“The rate of unemployment among young people is particularly worrying as it is above both the regional and national averages.
“With the ending of the furlough scheme in the coming weeks, the fear is that there is still worse to come.
“The impact on local people’s jobs, and lives, could be like nothing we’ve seen in recent memory.
“This council will continue to do all it can to help people and businesses through the struggles ahead.
“Services, such as housing are seeing increasing need and we have recently consulted on our economic improvement plan, which set out the things we want to achieve to help give the local economy a boost.
“However, this isn’t something we can deliver by ourselves, and we will need government to support local authorities in meeting the challenges ahead and the support and cooperation of others in both the public and private sectors.
“We must all work together in the best interests of residents and our communities.”