In Shropshire, the number of Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) claimants stood at 5,350 in February 2012, which represents a small increase over the preceding month (+2.9%). Prior to the economic downturn, the claimant count was relatively
stable at some 2,500, and as such there are still more than twice as many claimants than the pre-2008 norm.

Nationally, youth unemployment is becoming a major problem, with the number of 16-24 year olds claiming JSA rising by 14.3% over the last year. In Shropshire, there was an 11.7% increase in JSA claimants of this age, with 31% of all JSA claimants now aged 24 or less (February 2012). There are reports that an average of 80 young people are now applying for every available job.

The number of job vacancies is subject to considerable fluctuation, some of which relates to the seasonal effects of summer and Christmas employment.The total number of vacancies stood at 1,935 in February 2012, which represents a 4.7% increase over the same month in the previous year.

The average price of a house in Shropshire stood at £159,161 in January 2012, a price which is more or less unchanged compared with both the previous month and the same month in 2011, albeit with some fluctuations in between. Despite some stabilisation in house prices, the average price remains a substantial 12.6% lower than in January 2008. Shropshire house prices are currently very slightly lower than the national average (-1.5%) and notably higher than the regional average (+23.6%).

The information sheets and links at the bottom of this page will provide further information in relation to Shropshire's economy.

Back to top