Unemployment has risen over the summer, though Acocks Green has done better than other parts of Birmingham.

Seasonally adjusted unemployment rose from 5.2% to 5.5% in the UK and from 12.0% to 12.3% in Birmingham. Ward based data (which is only available in unadjusted format) showed Acocks Green’s unemployment rising by 10 or 0.1% to 1.120 or 9.9%. This is 27 (or 0.2%) lower than the same time last year.

Overall unemployment in Birmingham is up 3,167 (or 0.8%) than the same time last year. The only other wards, showing a fall are Billesley (-14), Bournville (-7), Sheldon (-29) and Sutton Vesey (-3), so Acocks Green is the second best performing ward in Birmingham on a 12 month view. The wards with the biggest increases are Aston (298) and Lozells and East Handsworth (209).

Looking at the national picture, second quarter (April to June) data now available from the Office of National Statistics (www.ons.gov.uk) shows both employment and unemployment rising during the quarter. This is because while employment grew, it did not grow fast enough to accommodate the rising working age population.

Employment increased by 25,000 in Q2 2011. This was made up of an increase of 49,000 in full tme work and a decline of 24,000 of those in part time work. Unemployment increased by 38,000. Meanwhile average weekly earnings (including bonuses) were 2.6% higher than a year ago.