HC Deb 14 April 1989 vol 150 c730W
Mr. John Marshall

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the fall in unemployment during the last 12 months for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Nicholls

In March 1989 the level of unemployment, seasonally adjusted, in the United Kingdom was 1,918,100 compared with 2,453,900 in March 1988—a fall of 535,800 or 21.8 per cent. on a consistent basis.

Mr. Adley

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which areas he now considers to have a labour shortage.

Mr. Cope

Thanks to the very strong growth in employment, unemployment rates have been falling since July 1986. By March 1989 there were 48 travel-to-work area with unemployment rates below 4 per cent. and 16 travel-to-work areas below 3 per cent.

As unemployment has fallen, some shortages of labour have appeared. Occupations most in demand are in higher level skills such as professional engineers, computer specialists and managers and in craft skills.