Part time workers fuel employment growth
THE LATEST employment figures in the North West mirrored a national trend, with the total number of people in employment increasing by 11,000.
However, much of the increase has been attributed to a rise in the number of people in part-time work – particularly as the number of unemployed people dropped by just 2,000 in the last quarter to 280,000.
Unemployment currently stands at 8.6%, which is the fifth-highest rate in England.
The number of people described is “inactive” – those that neither have or are looking for a job – fell by 9,000.
A spokesperson for the NWDA said: “Today’s labour market statistics have shown a continued stabilisation in the Northwest regional and national labour markets, with increased employment levels and decreased unemployment levels.
“The regional data is lagged, although the trend has been for falls in full time work and increases in part time employment. Female employment increased by 11,000 on the quarter, potentially supporting the view that much of the recent job creation has been part-time in nature.”
The spokesperson added that the manufacturing sector appears to have seen the highest level of job losses through 2010, followed by the leisure and IT sectors. The majority of job creation has been in administration services, as well as the social and education sectors.
