Midlands unemployment 'could take years to fall to pre-recession levels'

Employment in the Midlands is rising slower than expected. Credit: PA

It could take years to get unemployment in the Midlands back down to its pre-recession level, according to new analysis released by the TUC.

The study compared the rate unemployment rose between January 2008 and July 2012 with the rate it decreased from January to July of this year.

In the West Midlands the unemployment rate rose 3% from 6% to 9% between January 2008 and January 2012 and fell by a third of a percentage between January 2012 and July 2012.

In the East Midlands the unemployment rate increased 2.6% from 5.6% to 8.2% between January 2008 and January 2012 and fell by 0.4% between January 2012 and July 2012.

The TUC claims the research highlights the long-term effects of rising unemployment and exposes regional inequalities.