May 14, 1954

REAL unemployment in the Redditch district is as low as it has ever been, it was reported last week to the Redditch, Bromsgrove and District Local Employment Company by the secretary, Mr TL Griffiths.

Only 14 per cent of the insured population were employed for any length of time and never were many vacancies.

The hold-up of production of the De Havilland 'Comet' jet airliner at various factories elsewhere had resulted in a disruption of jet blade production in Redditch but about 40 people had been transferred to other work instead of them being discharged.

Mr Griffiths reported the local unemployment of 14 per cent compared with the Midland figure of six per cent and the national figure of 1.6 per cent.

The number of unfilled vacancies was increasing.

Employment among women was also negligible and there again there were many unfilled vacancies.