Employment rate struggles to bounce back

Employment levels across the UK in April 2011, the latest available figures, were down 0.5 per cent on pre-recession levels, the TUC said.

It found there was still great disparity between regions in the UK with employment up 122,000 or 3.3 per cent in London but down 70,000, minus 2.8 per cent, in the West Midlands.

The number of people in work is higher than pre-recession levels in London, the East of England and the East Midlands, while the North East, the West Midlands and the South West have the widest jobs gaps.

Female employment in the North East is down 5.1 per cent on pre-recession levels – although in London it is up 4.3 per cent.

The largest jobs gap for men is in Yorkshire and Humber at 4.3 per cent.