Unemployment remained broadly flat last month, though the different measures moved in different directions. Nationally the seasonally adjusted claimant level fell by 1,200 to 1,462,700. In Birmingham the seasonally adjusted level rose from 45,967 to 46,240 or 11.4% (compared to 12.6% a year ago). The unadjusted figure fell by 45 to remain at 11.3%. The seasonally adjusted figure is more meaningful as it strips out temporary factors such as Christmas jobs which reduce the rate at this time of year.

In Acocks Green the Unadjusted figure (we don’t have adjusted figures at ward level) fell by 2 to 1,182 (down 141 on a year ago). This is a claimant rate of 10.5%. In Birmingham the claimant rate ranges from 2.8% in Sutton Four Oaks to 27.7% in Washwood Heath.