Published: Thursday, 18th June, 2009 2:00pm

Unemployment stabilising after months of bad news

by Adam Hewitt

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Unemployment, measured by claimant count, since November 2008
Pic by: Adam Hewitt

UNEMPLOYMENT in Reading is stabilising after the lowest monthly increase since the downturn began.

The borough jobless figure now stands at 4,188, up just 47 on last month. The monthly rise in the jobless rate has been slowing since February. Wokingham borough has also seen a small rise of 43 to 2,020, while in West Berkshire unemployment has actually fallen by 17 to 2,402. There is similar good news in South Oxfordshire, which has 1,654 people on the jobless roll, eight less than last month,

The better news was discussed at an Economic Summit held at Reading Civic Centre on Tuesday which brought together councillors, businesspeople, voluntary organisations and community groups to discuss how Reading is responding to the recession.

Tim Smith, director of economic development company Reading UK CIC, said councils including Lancashire, Plymouth and Wiltshire use the Reading-Wokingham-Bracknell corridor as an economic model, but said plans must be made now to ensure the region stays on top.

He added: 'We oft hear that Reading has too many offices. Should we be marketing these collectively? The answer was no, private sector companies are not prepared to put money into a broader approach to marketing those offices.'

Christine Moore, from Reading Citizens" Advice Bureau, said: 'Businesses large and small are shedding staff they consider not productive, and there are lots more dismissals for gross misconduct and things which may have been tolerated in other circumstances.'

But she said there had been a silver lining, with many more people getting advice on turning their lives around and planning for the future.

Adam Jacobs, owner of Reading firm Jacobs the Jewellers, said high-end sales had held up and cheaper jewellery sales had actually increased, but that sales of "middle market" £1,000-£3,000 items had been hardest hit.

He said: 'The last six months have been wildly unpredictable.'

Peter Shotts, who works on getting more young people into training and work, said: 'Even once we"ve got through this economic downturn, job profiles will change. People with no, or low, qualifications will find very few jobs available.'

He recommended more businesses take on apprentices, something he described as a win-win situation for employee and employer.

UNEMPLOYMENT IN READING BOROUGH (measured by claimant count)

November 2008 2,332 (2.4%)

December 2008 2,482 (2.6%)

January 2009 2,755 (2.8%)

February 2009 3,444 (3.5%)

Mar 2009 3,796 (3.9%)

Apr 2009 4,141 (4.3%)

May 2009 4,188 (4.3%)