Hackney unemployment accelerates

The number of Hackney 'job seekers' - people claiming Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA) - has risen to 9,826 according to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics. The figure is for August and is up from 9550 JSA claimants in July.

In terms of Hackney's overall working population (about 140,000) the increase month on month was 0.2 percentage points, up from 6.7% of the working population on JSA in July to 6.9% in August.

This appears to be in-line with the average monthly increase. Over the last 10 months, the percentage of the borough's working population now claiming JSA has increased by 2% from 4.9% in both October and November 2008 to 6.9% in August.

On average, about 1% of Hackney's working population has been added to the JSA claimant count each five months. Hackney's increase in JSA claimants is amongst the fastest of all inner London boroughs.

As figures below show, since May, Hackney North's claimant count seems to be increasing faster than Hackney South. The north has seen 250 new job seekers on the register since May compared to Hackney South where 199 jobs have been lost over the same period.

Hackney South still has the higher percentage of JSA claimants - 7.7% of its working population, compared to Hackney North where 6.3% of the working population are JSA claimants. Over the last 10 months, Hackney South's JSA claimant count has still increased at a faster rate than the North (from 5.4% to 7.7% in the South, compared to 4.5% to 6.3% in the North) The latest figures show the North narrowing the gap.

However the unemployment issue did not appear to be a concern for the borough's politicians. There were no councillors' questions on employment or the extent of possible public sector job cuts on the council meeting agenda last night (Wednesday)

Figures from August in Regional Monthly Data - September 2009

Last month's figures - which covered July - showed that 9550 people in Hackney were claiming. This was an increase of 242 claimants from the figure in June. In June the number of claimants in Hackney actually fell to 9308 - from 9350 in May, a fall of 42 claimants.

Hackney North
May - 4,081
June - 4,118
July - 4206
August - 4,331
A total of 125 jobs lost over the period (up to July)
Now a total of 250 jobs lost since May.

Hackney South
May - 5,296
June - 5,190
July - 5,344
August - 5,495
A total of 48 jobs lost over the period (up to July).
Now a 199 jobs lost over the period from May.

Links to Blood and Property stories on unemployment:
Job Centre reorganised: can it cope?
Hackney crime figures - the only way is up
Hackney women losing jobs faster than men
Hackney: a worklessness miracle
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Unemployed in Hackney: The lull before the storm
Will Hackney return to 17% on the dole?