Industrial areas in the UK, such as those in the north-east and the Midlands, are the most vulnerable to economic shocks, a new report has revealed.
Middlesbrough is the least resilient place in the country, followed by Mansfield, then Nottinghamshire and Stoke-on-Trent, according to research from Experian and the BBC.
There is a clear north-south divide illustrated by the research, as Elmbridge in Surrey is the most resilient to economic shocks, followed by St Albans in Hertfordshire and Waverley, also in Surrey.
Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg told BBC Radio 4: "Even in the years of plenty over the last decade or so with a lot of government money going into areas of the north-east, north-west, and where I am an MP, South Yorkshire, we still have not been able to shift that divide."
Recently, leading think-tank the Centre for Economic and Business Research revealed unemployment rates could reach ten per cent in the north of Britain within the next five years.
Search our research reports to gain an insight in to the latest management issues.
Facebook
LinkedIn
Twitter
YouTube
Comments
It does seem a viscious circle here. I mean many northern towns seem so reliant upon state sector jobs, that whenever recession bites and cuts occur these towns suffer. The cuts are often done by Tories, so these areas build up a natural distaste towards the party, meaning Labour have easy votes by building up the state sector in these areas, thus further entrenching their reliance on the state as an employer.