Ports 'face recession job losses'

South East coastal towns face the worst unemployment, statistics show In maps

Coastal areas in the South East have been particularly badly hit during the recession, a new report has shown.

The latest regional economic report by the South East England Development Agency (Seeda) shows unemployment rates to be highest near ports.

Despite the region's 3% unemployment rate, some areas have 5% out of work.

The report said parts of Kent, Sussex and Hampshire where manufacturing, transport and logistics companies were based had been worst hit.

In Hastings, East Sussex, 5.7% of the labour market - 2,963 people - claim Job Seeker's Allowance compared with 3.5% last year, the report states.

Gravesham, Medway and Shepway have a 4.3% claimant rate while Thanet has a rate of 5.6%.

Both Havant in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have seen a rise from 2% to 4.1% in the last year.

Paul Lovejoy, executive director of Seeda, said although the coastal towns were "particularly exposed" in the "biggest economic downturn since the great depression", they also had "deep-seated issues" that needed to be addressed.

Skilled worker seeks low paid job

The worst affected towns started from a base of high unemployment and the downturn has led to a drop in port traffic and freight volumes, he added.

This has had a knock-on affect on other trades.

Builder Pat Boswell, from Hastings, once employed five people but has had no work since September 2008.

He said: "We can employ people when the work comes back because there are a lot of people out there looking for work but at the moment I'm one of those as well.

"I'm trying to find as much as I can so I can get them off the dole as well."

Mr Lovejoy added: "Although there are common issues faced by coastal towns they often face different routes through to the future."

He said Seeda was working on developing education and business innovation in Bexhill, cultural development in Margate and diversifying port activities in Dover.

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