Region’s industry nosedives in ‘massive problem for workers and local economy’

Yorkshire has haemorrhaged more than 65,000 manufacturing jobs in the past decade, a new study by GMB has shown.

The figures were discussed at GMB’s annual Congress in Plymouth between June 4 and 6.

They show that 65,600 jobs in the sector disappeared from 2006 to 2016, a massive fall of 19% - among the worst in the country.

Between them the lost jobs have meant the region has seen £1.8 billion less paid in manufacturing wages in real-terms.

In 2006 the Yorkshire and Humberside supported 353,000 permanent and temporary manufacturing jobs – almost 15% of the all jobs in the region.

By 2016, that had slumped to just 287,000 or 11% of the total.

GMB demands the Government invests in UK industries and avoid damaging tariffs on British goods to help reverse this dangerous decline.

Neil Derrick, GMB Regional Secretary, said: “Yorkshire is haemorrhaging manufacturing jobs – and it’s massive problem for both our workers and our local economy.

“We should cherish our manufacturing sector, but instead successive governments have driven it into the ground through a lack of investment and tendering processes that hamper our homegrown businesses.

“Manufacturing wages are 20% higher than the national average, and the sector is a keystone of the wider economy.

 “These are jobs worth fighting for.

 “If this sad decline is not addressed then the next generation of Yorkshire men and women will surely pay the price.”