Unemployment up 11,000 in Sheffield since lockdown

Unemployment in Sheffield has risen by more than 11,000 during the pandemic, shock new figures show.
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The city had 11,225 more people claiming unemployment benefits – such as universal credit – in the months since lockdown began compared to the months directly before.

It takes the total number of claimants to 29,270.

The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, also show in April, 2.1 million people filed a claim for either Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance, a rise of approximately 850,000 compared to March.

Fargate in a deserted Sheffield city centre, the day after lockdown was announced.Fargate in a deserted Sheffield city centre, the day after lockdown was announced.
Fargate in a deserted Sheffield city centre, the day after lockdown was announced.
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Sheffield was placed 33rd in a table of increases in unemployment in the UK’s 63 largest cities and towns. Barnsley and Doncaster were in the top 10.

Doncaster is sixth in the list, with a 2.6 per cent increase, while Barnsley is seventh with 2.5 per cent.

Centre for Cities published the analysis - a first indication of where the economy has taken the hardest hit since lockdown.

Claimant counts are up everywhere in the country, Northern and Midlands cities and towns have seen the highest increases in the UK, and have the highest rates over all.

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The 10 cities with the lowest claimant counts are in the South of England and Scotland, with York being the only northern exception.

The increase in people claiming benefits corresponds with companies laying off staff, citing an inability to pay wages as business suffers due to forced closure during lockdown and the weakened economy brought on by the pandemic.

Many freelancers have also lost work due to cancellations and closures, and are also now able to claim universal credit.

A Centre for Cities spokeswoman said: “A number of factors are driving these results – industry composition, use of the Job Retention Scheme, eligibility for benefits among others – but one thing is certain: unemployment is rising fast, especially in places that already had weaker economies.

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“Reducing this number will be the biggest challenge for the Government for months ahead. We will continue to provide data and intelligence as it becomes available, so watch this space as we develop policy recommendations fit for supporting the recovery in different labour markets.”

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