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London suffers as total of jobless rises sharply
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor21 Jan 2009
TODAY'S unemployment figures were expected to show that 80,000 people started claiming benefit in the last month.
London was particularly badly hit with job losses in the high street and City.
The sharp rise, one of the worst monthly figures on record, put the number claiming jobseeker's allowance at well over a million. It was expected to take the overall people out of work over the two million mark. Analysts warn that the jobless total could soar to 3.4 million by 2011.
A snapshot of weakening confidence in the capital came when the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry found that only half of businesses are certain they will survive the downturn.
John Philpott, of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said today: "We are now in the dark days of the recession. In all probability by the end of the year, one in 10 people will be jobless."
He warned that falling inflation was also putting pressure on wages, adding: "If you are looking for a job, things are difficult. If you are in a job, you may be fearing that you will lose it.
"If you are in a job, don't look forward to a big pay rise this year."
The jobs figures were being released as a report was published claiming women will be hardest hit by the recession because more are in work and jobs are being lost across the economy rather than in male-dominated sectors.
The study by the TUC showed that more households depend on a woman's wage today than in previous economic downturns, while women earn more than men in a fifth of couples.
Reader views (3)
Steve Jones,
The North West is also getting another taste. In fact, the whole country is getting a taste not just London. Scotland is also getting a taste and probably, as far as I know, Wales is too.
- Joan, London, 21/01/2009 14:24
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Double the numbers the NewLab loonies give out and you will still be way out.
- James, London UK, 21/01/2009 12:43
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London is getting a taste of what the North West suffered back in 1980.
- Steve Jones, Cambridge, 21/01/2009 12:31
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