Preston to be hit by student exodus
The loss of Preston's students over the summer months will have a knock-on effect on the numbers of people unemployed in the city, according to experts.
Recruitment specialists believe firms including retailers, leisure operators and estate agents may look to lay off staff due to the seasonal absence of more than 35,000 students.
New figures from the Office of National Statistics show 3,669 people currently claim unemployment benefit in the city.
That's an increase of 1,450 claimants (65.3%) in the last year and 167 people (4.8%) between March and April.
James Gerrard, a recruitment consultant from Fulwood said: "Preston has becomemore and more reliant on the university over the years and you have only to see how quiet the city centre is without them to realise that.
"If you speak to traders, they often tell you that they look forward to September when the students come back because they see a huge uplift in sales.
"When sales disappear, many companies will look to downsize which often means letting people go; I certainly do not expect to see any uplift in job creation over the next few months."
The city's Ribbleton ward remains the area of highest unemployment with 436 people claiming benefit, an increase of 58% over the last year to more than twice the national average.
In South Ribble, there are 2,085 claimants, up 1,226 in the last year, with the Lowerhouse area of Leyland having 132 claimants or 5.4% of the working population on benefit.
The Chorley East ward is the worst area of Chorley with 5.7% of the workforce on benefit.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 24 May 2012
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