Unemployment almost doubles in Cumbria and south of Scotland
Video report by Lewis Warner
Unemployment has almost doubled since lockdown across Cumbria and the south of Scotland.
Figures from the Office for National Statistics demonstrate the impact the pandemic is having on businesses and the economy. They show that across the region, more than 22,700 people were seeking work in June.
The latest data shows 14,065 people are seeking work in Cumbria.
5,015 people are seeking employment in Dumfries and Galloway - that's 5.7% of the population and up 2.7% on the same period last year when 2,405 people were seeking employment.
In the Scottish Borders, 3,645 seeking employment that's 5.3% of the population and up 2.8% on the same period last year when 1,890 people were seeking employment.
There is a slight improvement between May and June but it's thought could be down to some furloughed workers, who were claiming top-up benefits- returning to work, rather than people finding new employment.
Nationally, the ONS said that between March and June the number of UK workers on payrolls fell by 649,000. In the past month alone, 74,000 jobs were lost.
Jonathan Athow, deputy national statistician at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said: “As the pandemic took hold, the labour market weakened markedly, but that rate of decline slowed into June, though this is before recent reports of job losses.
“There are now almost two-thirds of a million fewer employees on the payroll than before the lockdown, according to the latest tax data.
He added: “There are now far more out-of-work people who are not looking for a job than before the pandemic.”