Unemployment up for first time in four months (From Chelmsford Weekly News)

Unemployment up for first time in four months

4:30pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in News

UNEMPLOYMENT in Chelmsford has risen for the first time in four months.

After bucking the national trend consecutively for four months, the latest statistics released show unemployment has gone up by 274 people to 3,103 in the Chelmsford local authority area, and in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency by 184 people to 2,220.

Simon Burns, Chelmsford’s MP, said he was “disappointed” but hopes the figures improve next month.

He said: “For the previous four months, Chelmsford has seen a decline in local unemployment and I am disappointed that this trend has not continued for January’s figures, because clearly I would like to see unemployment in Chelmsford continue to fall.

“My thoughts do remain with those people who are sadly struggling to find work at present, but I hope that this month will be a one-off rise and that the reducing trend will return in next month’s figures.”