§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the percentage increase in unemployment since May 1979 in each of the seven districts of the Walsall travel-to-work area.
§ Mr. Alison:The following table gives the percentage increases in the numbers registered as unemployed in the areas specified between May 1979 and September 1982. The figures on which the increases are based include school leavers and are not seasonally adjusted.
Employment office area Percentage increase Aldridge 525 Brownhills 377 Cannock 243 Lichfield 237 Rugeley 232 Walsall 262 Willenhall 437
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons have been unemployed for longer than(a)six months and(b)12 months in the United Kingdom, the West Midlands and the Walsall travel-to-work area; and if he will give the corresponding figures for May 1979, October 1980 and October 1981, the increase each year in percentage terms and the total increase in percentage terms between May 1979 and the present time.
§ Mr. Alison:The numbers registered as unemployed are analysed by duration of unemployment in January, April, July and October and the latest available information is for July 1982. Table 1 following gives the numbers unemployed for the lengths of time specified and the annual percentage changes between comparable dates. Table 2 gives the percentage changes between July 1979 and July 1982.
299W
Unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks Unemployed for over 52 weeks Number Percentage change Number Percentage change October 1981 91,281 +147.4 99,451 +136.9 Walsall travel-to-work area July 1979 1,438 2,394* July 1980 2,477 +72.3 2,764 +15.5 July 1981 7.654 +209.0 6,291 +127.6 July 1982 6,834 -10.7 12,255 +94.8 October 1980 3,068 3,339 October 1981 7,969 +159.7 8,276 +147.9 *Revised figure.
Table 2 Unemployed for over 26 and up to 52 weeks Percentage change between July 1979 and July 1982 Unemployed for over 52 weeks Percentage change between July 1979 and July 1982 United Kingdom +203.7 +196.8 West Midlands region +287.1 +322.3 Walsall travel-to-work area +375.2 +411.9
§ Mr. Winnickasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will provide a breakdown by occupation groups of the registered vacancies in (a) the West Midlands and (b) the Walsall travel-to-work area in May 1979 and now.
§ Mr. Alison:The following table gives an analysis by broad occupational groups of the numbers of notified vacancies remaining unfilled at June 1979 and September 1982. The figures, which are available quarterly, relate to vacancies notified to employment offices but not careers offices. Vacancies notified to employment offices are estimated to be about one-third of all vacancies in the economy as a whole.
The number of vacancies unfilled at a particular date takes no account of the flow of vacancies being notified, filled or withdrawn which would reflect activity more closely. For example, during the twelve-month period to September 1982, 91,362 people were placed in jobs by employment offices in the West Midlands region. It is estimated that the public employment service accounts for about one in four of all placings.
300W
Numbers of vacancies remaining unfilled at employment offices West Midlands region Walsall travel-to work area June 1979 Sept 1982 June 1979 Sept 1982 Managerial (general management) 2 18 — — Professional and related supporting management and administration 149 173 — 4 Professional and related in education, welfare and health 390 339 31 36 Literary, artistic and sports 38 64 — 2 Professional and related in science, engineering, technology and similar fields 406 244 16 7 Managerial (excluding general management) 260 390 10 10
West Midlands region Walsall travel-to work area June 1979 Sept 1982 June 1979 Sept 1982 Clerical and related 1,933 1,145 112 83 Selling 1,106 1,315 67 50 Security and protective service 255 64 5 8 Catering, cleaning, hairdressing and other personal service 2,424 1,207 145 74 Farming, fishing and related 216 101 18 1 Materials processing (excluding metal) 223 66 14 2 Making and repairing (excluding metal and electrical) 1,117 380 96 25 Processing, making, repairing and related (metal and electrical) 4,140 651 380 48 Painting, repetitive assembling, product inspecting, packaging and related 828 234 59 19 Construction, mining and related not elsewhere classified 697 222 55 9 Transport operating, materials moving and storing and related 1,182 304 95 14 Miscellaneous (including general labourers) 825 211 69 17 Total all occupations 16,191 7,228 1,172 409