Official unemployment statistics
Lancashire, unitary authorities and sub-regions
(yearly averages - produced quarterly)
April 2010 to March 2011
Revised figures
Please note that in May 2011 the Annual Population Survey and official unemployment statistics were revised back to 2004. Figures presented in previous reports may therefore differ to the revised figures in this and future reports.
Total unemployment - all persons
Male unemployment
Female unmeployment
Total unemployment - all persons
Summary
Official unemployment in the UK for the year between April 2010 and March 2011 totalled 2,373,100 persons with an unemployment rate of 7.6% (+/- 0.1%). The male rate was higher at 8.4% (+/-0.2%), whilst the female rate was lower at 6.6% (+/- 0.2%). Generally, male unemployment rates are higher than female rates.
Official unemployment across the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area totalled 28,300 persons with an unemployment rate for the year of 4.8% (+/- 1.0%), which was statistically lower than the UK rate of 7.6 (+/- 0.1%). Unemployment numbers totalled 39,600 persons in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region with an unemployment rate for the year of 5.6% (+/- 0.8%), which was also statistically lower than the UK rate.
The high unemployment rates in Blackburn with Darwen at 9.4% (+/- 2.1%) and Blackpool at 8.8% (+/ 1.9%) increase the unemployment rate for the broader Lancashire14-authority sub-region.
The total of 23,900 unemployed persons in the Lancashire West area of the sub-region equates to an unemployment rate of 5.6% (+/- 0.8%), which was again statistically lower than the UK rate of 7.6% (+/- 0.1%).
Unemployment in East Lancashire had been on the rise and higher than the UK average since early 2007, well before the financial crisis and economic downturn took hold in 2008. It has however declined over recent quarters, since the peak recorded for year ending March 2010. Indeed, for the year ending March 2011, the unemployment rate in East Lancashire at 6.5% (+/- 1.4%) was lower than it was before the recession began, and lower than it has been since the year ending September 2007. It does however remain relatively high within the Lancashire context. Owing to the wide confidence intervals it is not possible to say whether the rates are higher, lower or equal to the UK rate.
Official unemployment has fallen at a significantly faster pace in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area (-26.9%) than nationally (-5.1%) between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending March 2011. For the year ending March 2011, the yearly unemployment figures for the Lancashire 12-authority area are lower than they were in mid 2007 - before the start of the recession in 2008.
Unemployment in the two unitary authorities of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool has however remained at the higher, post recession, levels.
The official unemployment total for the year ending March 2011 was over a quarter lower (-26.9%) in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area than recorded a year earlier – a reduction of -10,400 persons.
Despite the continued downward trend in the unemployment rate in both the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area and the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region in the latest figures, unemployment has risen in Blackburn with Darwen since the previous figures were released - for the year ending December 2010.
Please note that official unemployment figures at the local Lancashire level lag the headline figures at the national and regional level by about five months, so recent headline changes to unemployment and redundancies may not be reflected in the local statistics until they actually happen and/or are recorded via the annual population survey some months in the future. Official unemployment at the local Lancashire level is also a yearly average, whereas the headline unemployment statistics released monthly at the UK and regional level are three month averages. Please note therefore that the UK and regional figures will be different in the two datasets.
Male and female unemployment
Male unemployment accounts for roughly 60% to 68% of total unemployment.
For the year ending March 2011, male unemployment is statistically lower than the UK male unemployment rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%) in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area (5.7% (+/- 1.6%), the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region (6.6% (+/- 1.2%) and the Lancashire West area (5.8% (+/- 1.4%).
Male unemployment remains high in Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool and East Lancashire.
Male unemployment has however fallen particularly strongly in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region, estimated at just over 30%, or -6,400 men since the previous year, from 21,100 to 14,700. If the Blackpool increase is excluded, the reduction is even greater in the remaining Lancashire West area (excluding Blackpool), where male unemployment will have fallen by -6,600 men, or -37.5%.
Female unemployment for the year ending March 2011 is statistically lower than the UK female rate of 6.6% (+/- 0.2%) in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area (3.8% (+/- 1.3%), the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region (4.4% (+/- 1.0%) , the Lancashire West area (4.3% (+/- 1.3%) and now in East Lancashire (4.5% (+/- 1.7%).
Female unemployment has continued to fall sharply in East Lancashire since the recent peak recorded in the year ending March 2010 despite the recent rises in Blackburn with Darwen over the last half year.
Female unemployment remains high in both Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool but does not appear to be following the high national trend in the Lancashire 12-authority area. Female unemployment has fallen rapidly in East Lancashire since the previous year. The trend has been for female unemployment to fall in Lancashire since early 2009.
Please note that the size of the workforce in the Lancashire West area is 91% larger than that in East Lancashire. Numbers may not sum exactly owing to the rounding of figures.
The workforces in both Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool unitary authorities have similar totals and each account for just under 9% of the total workforce in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region.
Although the unemployment rates for Blackburn with Darwen at 9.4% (+/- 2.1%) and Blackpool at 8.8% (+/-1.9%) suggest that the rates are higher than the UK rate of 7.6% (+/- 0.1%), the differences are not enough to be certain when the statistical confidence intervals (the range of possible unemployment rates) are taken into consideration. This is because there is a statistical chance, or probability, that the rates could in fact be lower than the UK rate or the same as the UK rate. Figure 1 shows that the wide confidence intervals (potential unemployment rates) associated with the central unemployment rates of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen overlap with those of the UK by a considerable amount, which results in the uncertainty. Table 1 and Figure 1 refer.
Again, the East Lancashire rate of 6.5% (+/-1.4%) would suggest that the rate is lower than the UK rate of 7.6 (+/- 0.1%), however, because the statistical confidence intervals for East Lancashire are so wide (+/- 1.4%) it is impossible to say with any degree of certainty whether the unemployment rate for East Lancashire is lower, higher or the same as the UK rate. Table 1 and Figure 1 refer.
The total unemployment rate in the North West region at 7.8% (+/- 0.4%) was not statistically greater than the UK rate of 7.6% (+/- 0.1%).
Official model based estimates of unemployment for districts and unitary authorities
The Office for National Statistics has developed model-based estimates of unemployment that have narrower confidence intervals and improved accuracy for Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen.
Model-based estimates of unemployment are also available for the twelve districts within the county of Lancashire. Owing to the different methodology and narrower confidence intervals, the model-based estimates of unemployment provide more precise statistics in most instances. The model based unemployment data is however only available for total unemployment and is not subdivided by age or sex. The Annual Population Survey is therefore the only available source for official male and female unemployment statistics at the local level.
| Total unemployment | Yearly change | Quarterly change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Denominator (all persons aged 16+ economically active) | Unemployment rate | With confidence interval ±% given below [§] | Number | % | In rate | Number | % | In rate | |
| Burnley Chorley Fylde Hyndburn Lancaster Pendle Preston Ribble Valley Rossendale South Ribble West Lancashire Wyre |
Please see model-based estimates of unemployment for local authority districts and unitary authorities. | |||||||||
| Lancashire (12 districts) | 28,300 | 586,400 | 4.8 | 1.0 | -10,400 | -26.9 | -2.1 | -5,200 | -15.5 | -0.9 |
| Blackburn with Darwen UA | 5,700 | 60,800 | 9.4 | 2.1 | -600 | -9.5 | -0.6 | 500 | 9.6 | 0.9 |
| Blackpool UA | 5,500 | 63,000 | 8.8 | 1.9 | -200 | -3.5 | 0.0 | -400 | -6.8 | -0.5 |
| East Lancashire | 15,700 | 243,000 | 6.5 | 1.4 | -5,000 | -24.2 | -2.1 | -1,800 | -10.3 | -0.6 |
| Lancashire West | 23,900 | 467,100 | 5.1 | 1.0 | -6,000 | -20.1 | -1.6 | -3,200 | -11.8 | -0.7 |
| Lancashire (14 authorities) | 39,600 | 710,100 | 5.6 | 0.8 | -11,000 | -21.7 | -1.7 | -5,000 | -11.2 | -0.7 |
| North West | 262,200 | 3,382,700 | 7.8 | 0.4 | -33,100 | -11.2 | -1.0 | -10,300 | -3.8 | -0.2 |
| England | 1,989,500 | 26,360,800 | 7.5 | 0.2 | -91,200 | -4.4 | -0.4 | -15,700 | -0.8 | -0.1 |
| Great Britain | 2,317,100 | 30,453,900 | 7.6 | 0.1 | -77,400 | -3.2 | -0.3 | -11,800 | -0.5 | -0.1 |
| United Kingdom | 2,373,100 | 31,288,300 | 7.6 | 0.1 | -78,000 | -3.2 | -0.3 | -14,800 | -0.6 | 0.0 |
| ! Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2) | ||||||||||
| * Estimate and confidence interval unreliable since the group sample size is small (3-9) | ||||||||||
| ~ Estimate is less than 500 | ||||||||||
| § 95% confidence interval of percentage figure | ||||||||||
| Source: Office for National Statistics - National On-line Manpower Information System (N.O.M.I.S.) | ||||||||||
Change in unemployment since the previous year
Official unemployment has fallen at a significantly greater pace in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area than nationally between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending March 2011. For the year ending March 2011, the yearly unemployment figures for the Lancashire 12-authority area are lower than they were in mid 2007 - before the start of the recession in 2008. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
Total unemployment decreased by -10,400 persons (-26.9%), by over a quarter in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area and by -11,000 persons (-21.7%) in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region over the previous year. This reduced the unemployment rate in each area by -2.1% and -1.7%, respectively. These reductions compared to a fall in the unemployment numbers in the UK of just -3.2% and in the unemployment rate of just -0.3% at the UK level over the previous year. Table 1 and Figure 2 refer.
Although there has been some reduction over the previous year, unemployment in the two unitary authorities of Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool has however remained at the higher, post recession, levels. Despite the unemployment total falling in Blackpool by -200 persons (-3.5%) over the figure for the previous year, the rate has not changed because the economically active population (the denominator) has also fallen over the period. Please note that the unemployment figures may not sum exactly owing to the rounding of numbers. Similarly, rates may not calculate as expected as it is assumed that non rounded numbers have been used to compute the actual rate published. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
The number unemployed within Blackburn with Darwen fell quite rapidly between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending September 2010, however, the number of unemployed has increased again since that time. The number unemployed was however -9.5% lower (-600 persons) for the year ending March 2011 than it was in the previous year.
The reduction in unemployment numbers in East Lancashire (including Blackburn with Darwen) of -5,000 persons since the previous year was significant at just under a quarter (-24.2%), and the unemployment rate has fallen by -2.1%. If the reduction in Blackburn with Darwen of -600 persons (-9.5%) is excluded from the East Lancashire figures then the fall in unemployment in the remainder of East Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen) is even more substantial, estimated at -4,500 persons (-31.0%) – almost a third. Please note that the unemployment figures may not sum exactly owing to the rounding of numbers. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
Overall, in the whole of the Lancashire West area (including Blackpool) unemployment has fallen by a fifth, or -6,000 persons, -20.1%. If the decrease of -200 persons in Blackpool is excluded from the figures, then in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region (excluding Blackpool), unemployment has fallen significantly since the previous year, by -5,900 persons, or -24.4%, almost a quarter. Please note that the unemployment figures may not sum exactly owing to the rounding of numbers. The unemployment rate has fallen by -1.6% in the whole of the Lancashire West area over the previous year. This compares to a fall in the rate of -0.3% at the UK level over the period. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
Change in unemployment since the previous dataset (quarter)
Since the previous dataset, for the year ending December 2010, total unemployment decreased by -5,200 persons in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area (-15.5%) and by -5,000 persons in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region (-11.2%). This reduced the unemployment rates by -0.9% and -0.7%, for the two Lancashire areas, respectively. By comparison, the UK unemployment rate did not change since the previous dataset (for the year ending December 2010), remaining at 7.6% (+/- 0.1%). Table 1 and Figure 2 refer.
The decrease for the whole of East Lancashire, including Blackburn with Darwen, was -1,800 persons or -10.3%. This was a much more rapid percentage decrease in the number of persons unemployed than recorded in the UK of -0.6%. If the increase in Blackburn with Darwen of +500 (+9.5%) is excluded from the East Lancashire figures, unemployment for the remainder of East Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen) fell much more strongly by -2,300 persons, or -18.7%. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
The Lancashire West part of the sub-region recorded a fall in unemployment numbers of -3,200 persons (-11.8%), including a fall of -400 persons in Blackpool (-6.8%) on the previous dataset (for the year ending December 2010). This reduced the unemployment rates in each area by -0.7% and -0.5%, respectively. Please note that figures may not sum exactly owing to the rounding of numbers. Table 1 and Figures 2 and 3 refer.
Official yearly unemployment estimates for Lancashire - trends and change since 2004
Figure 2 shows that the official yearly unemployment rate in Lancashire was generally lower than the UK average before mid 2007. The rate increased sharply in line with the UK trend, as the impact of the recession fed into the yearly figures through 2008/2009, before flattening out from mid 2009. Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool have generally had persistently higher rates of unemployment. These reduced markedly since the peak (for the year ending March 2010), especially in Blackburn, but the latest figures show that they have increased once again, and particularly so in Blackburn.
As from the year ending June 2009, official unemployment within Lancashire as a whole did not rise as fast as the UK trend, although both peaked in the year ending March 2010. Figure 2 refers.
Between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending March 2011, unemployment has also fallen at a greater rate in Lancashire than the UK average. The pace of decrease has slowed in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region over the most recent two quarters, owing to the increase in unemployment in both Blackpool, but especially Blackburn with Darwen. Figure 2 refers.
Over the previous year, the reduction in the unemployment rate was greater in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area (-2.1%) than the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region (-1.7%). Table 1 refers.
Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority experienced a decrease in the number of unemployed persons of -600 persons (-9.5%) on the previous year. The decrease in Blackpool unitary authority of -200 persons (-3.5%) was more in line with the fall in unemployment recorded in the UK of -3.2%.
Unemployment increased for both males and females since the last dataset in Blackburn with Darwen. The respective rates of unemployment remain relatively high for all persons, females and males, but especially the male rate in Blackpool and the female rate in Blackburn with Darwen. Tables 1, 2 & 3 refer.
East Lancashire and Lancashire West unemployment estimates – trends and change since 2004
Figure 3 indicates that the unemployment rate in East Lancashire had been on the rise and higher than the UK average since early 2007, well before the financial crisis and economic downturn took hold in 2008. It has however declined over recent quarters, since the peak recorded for year ending March 2010. Indeed, for the year ending March 2011, the unemployment rate in East Lancashire was lower than it was before the recession began, and lower than it has been since the year ending September 2007. It does however remain relatively high within the Lancashire context.
Male unemployment has appeared to be the main contributor to the East Lancashire unemployment total between 2007 and the autumn of 2009, however female unemployment increased rapidly from the autumn of 2009 to spring of 2010, before declining rapidly once again to date. Figures 3, 7 and 10 refer.
Male unemployment in East Lancashire actually appeared to reduce at the recession took hold in 2008 and 2009, although it has remained relatively high since 2007. The wide confidence intervals for East Lancashire (+/- 2.0% or more) may partly explain some of this trend, however. Figures 3 and 7 refer.
The Lancashire West area of the sub-region would appear to have had a lower unemployment rate (for all persons) than UK average since 2005, which has continued through the economic downturn to date. Figure 3 refers.
Male unemployment has fallen at a rapid pace in the Lancashire West area since the peak recorded for the year ending March 2010. It is still significantly higher than the 3.1% (+/- 1.0%) recorded for the recent low point recorded for year ending March 2008. Figure 7 refers.
Whereas female unemployment in East Lancashire increased as the recession took hold and continued to rise into 2010, female unemployment in the Lancashire West area started to decline somewhat earlier, from mid 2009. The female unemployment rate has however fluctuated over the past year, and has ended up at the same level for the year ending March 2011 as recorded in the previous year. Figure 10 refers.
Official unemployment estimates for Lancashire – gender analysis
Male unemployment accounts for just under three fifths of the total at the UK level at 59.9%, but a slightly greater percentage, at just under two thirds of the total unemployment figure, in Lancashire, at just over 64%. Male unemployment represents a greater proportion of total unemployment in the East Lancashire part of the sub-region (68.2%) than within the Lancashire West area (61.5%). Correspondingly, women account for a smaller percentage of the unemployment total in Lancashire. Further detail is available in the male unemployment section.
Change in UK male and female yearly unemployment estimates
Since the recent peak in unemployment (all persons - yearly rates), which was recorded in the year ending March 2010, male unemployment rates have continued to fall in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area, the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region and the Lancashire West area, at a much faster pace than the UK. The male rate has however tended to fluctuate within East Lancashire over recent quarters, but has still fallen roughly in line with the UK rate. Figure 6 and 7 refer.
Since the previous year, both male and female unemployment totals have dropped in most of the geographic areas within the Lancashire sub-region, although there were a couple of exceptions. Tables 2 and 3 and Figures 6, 7, 9 and 10 refer.
Male unemployment numbers dropped significantly in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region, by over 30%, and by 29% in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area over the previous year. The fall was less marked within East Lancashire, dropping by almost 10%. The exception to this was an increase in male unemployment of +200 men in Blackpool. This rise was however outweighed by a greater decrease in the number of women unemployed in Blackpool and the significant falls in male unemployment elsewhere in Lancashire. In the UK ,male unemployment numbers fell by just over 5%.
Female unemployment fell substantially within East Lancashire by 44%, a reverse of the situation in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region where male unemployment fell significantly. Female unemployment actually increased in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region by +400 women (+4.5%) and by +700 women (10.6%) in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region (excluding Blackpool). These increases were again outweighed by a vastly greater decrease in the number of men unemployed in the areas concerned and elsewhere in Lancashire.
The rate of decrease in unemployment for both males and females appears to have accelerated since the previous dataset in some areas (for the year ending December 2010). The exception being Blackburn with Darwen which has now seen both male and female unemployment totals rise over the last two datasets (since the year ending September 2010).
Interpreting the results - a note of caution
Substantial caution should be employed when comparing and interpreting official unemployment data. In Figure 1, the official UK unemployment rate is 7.6% with a confidence interval of +/- 0.1%. This is effectively an estimated range of potential unemployment rates lying between 7.5% and 7.7%, inclusive.
Only if there is gap between the confidence intervals associated with the unemployment rates of two geographic areas, can one rate be said to be statistically significant, and therefore definitely higher or lower than another rate. For example, in Figure 1 the unemployment rate for the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region of 5.6% (+/- 0.8%), effectively 4.8% to 6.4%, does not overlap with the UK rate of 7.6% (+/- 0.1%), or 7.5% to 7.7%. Therefore, the total unemployment rate in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region can be said to be statistically lower than the UK rate. Alternatively, the difference in the rates can be said to be statistically significant.
If the confidence intervals associated with the unemployment rates of two geographical areas overlap (or are the same) however, the difference between the two rates may not be said to be statistically significant, or different, and should not be reported as such.
In this report, where one unemployment rate cannot be said to be statistically significant, or different, then the term 'suggest(s)' will be used to convey the lack of statistical certainty.
For example in Figure 1, the official unemployment figures suggest that unemployment for Blackburn with Darwen at 9.4% (+/- 2.1%) is higher than the East Lancashire rate of 6.5% (+/- 1.4%), although the difference is not statistically significant as the confidence intervals associated with the rates overlap between 7.3% and 7.9%. This is an example of where confidence intervals can overlap (or match) at just one extreme of a confidence interval.
Similarly, a rate of 5.7% (+/- 0.3%), or 5.4% to 6.0% can match a rate of 7.8% (+/- 1.8%), effectively 6.0% to 9.6%, at the extremities of the confidence intervals. Here the confidence intervals match at 6.0% and the rates cannot be said to be statistically different - or the difference in the rates is not statistically significant.
The wide confidence intervals at the local district or unitary authority level mean that the range of rates within the confidence intervals, for example, 9.4 % (± 2.1%) - effectively 7.3% to 11.5% (see Blackburn with Darwen in Figure 1) - can overlap and be potentially higher or lower than narrower rates, such as the UK rate of 7.6% (±0.1%), or 7.5% to 7.5%. Again, the difference in the rates is not statistically significant.
The official unemployment statistics are estimates and should be viewed as a guide, rather than precise fact. The smaller sample sizes locally can sometimes also produce volatile results. Extreme or substantial movements in the data should be analysed in the context of future and past trend data.
Male unemployment (males aged 16+) - April 2010 to March 2011
Revised figures
Please note that in May 2011 the Annual Population Survey and official unemployment statistics were revised back to 2004. Figures presented in previous reports may therefore differ to the revised figures in this and future reports.
Male unemployment summary
Male unemployment has fallen at a significantly greater pace in Lancashire than the UK between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending March 2011. The fall has been especially evident in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region (excluding Blackpool). Male unemployment has however increased since the summer of 2010 in both Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool unitary authorities.
Please note that official unemployment figures at the local Lancashire level lag the headline figures at the national and regional level by about five months, so recent headline changes to unemployment and redundancies may not be reflected in the local statistics until they actually happen and/or are recorded via the annual population survey some months in the future. Official unemployment at the local Lancashire level is also a yearly average, whereas the headline unemployment statistics released monthly at the UK and regional level are three month averages. Please note therefore that the UK and regional figures will be different in the two datasets.
Official male unemployment in the UK for the year between April 2010 and March 2011 totalled 1,421,700 with an unemployment rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%). Male unemployment rates tend to be higher than female rates. Table 2 and Figure 4 refer.
Male unemployment accounts for just under two thirds of the total unemployment figure in Lancashire. This is a slightly higher percentage than the national split, where male unemployment is nearer to three fifths of the total. The female unemployment rate is lower in Lancashire than the national average and this partly explains the higher male percentage in Lancashire. Figure 5 refers.
For the year ending March 2011, official male unemployment rates for the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area at 5.7% (+/- 1.6%), the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region at 6.6% (+/- 1.2%) and the Lancashire West area at 5.8% (+/- 1.4%) were statistically lower than the UK male unemployment rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%).
The male unemployment rate for East Lancashire was 8.1% (+/- 2.0%). Owing to the wide confidence limits (+/- 2.0%) it is not possible to say with any certainty whether the rate is higher, lower or equal to the UK rate or other Lancashire rates.
The wide confidence limits associated with the male unemployment rates in Blackpool of 10.9% (+/- 2.9%) and Blackburn with Darwen at 10.5% (+/- 3.0%) also overlap with the UK rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%) and make it difficult to establish with any degree of certainty whether the unemployment rates for these two areas are above, below or equal to the UK rate. On balance, these official figures suggest that male unemployment errs towards being greater than the UK rate in these two unitary authorities (although the probability exists that the rate could be lower or equal to the UK rate).
The male rates for both Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen are however statistically greater than the unemployment rates for men in the Lancashire 12-authority area and the Lancashire West area. The male rate for Blackpool is also statistically greater than the unemployment rate for men in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region.
Change in unemployment figures – yearly and quarterly
Whereas male unemployment in the UK decreased by just over 5.0% or by -76,100 men between March 2010 and March 2011, male unemployment fell much more significantly in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area, by -29.2% or -7,500 men. This reduced the male unemployment rate by -2.7% for the Lancashire County Council area.
Male unemployment also decreased by -7,500 men in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region over the year as the Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen changes cancelled each other out. Table 2 refers.
Male unemployment has fallen particularly strongly in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region (excluding Blackpool), estimated at just over 30%, or -6,400 men since the previous year, from 21,100 to 14,700. If the Blackpool numbers are excluded, the reduction is even greater in the remaining Lancashire West area (excluding Blackpool), where male unemployment will have fallen by -6,600 men, or -37.5%. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
The quarterly change in figures from the previous set of data (for the year ending December 2010), show that male unemployment decreased at a much faster pace across the majority of the Lancashire sub-region than experienced in the UK as a whole. The exception within Lancashire was Blackburn with Darwen, which recorded a second consecutive quarterly increase.
Within the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area male unemployment fell by -3,400 men, -15.7%, compared to just -1.9% nationally. The male unemployment rate in the county fell by -1.1%, to 5.7% (+/- 1.6%) since the previous dataset (the year ending December 2010). Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
In Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority however, the number of unemployed men increased quite markedly by +400 men (+12.9%) on the previous dataset. This added 1.2% to the unemployment rate taking it to 10.5% (+/- 3.0%). As the number of males increased by +400 in Blackburn with Darwen this indicates that male unemployment must have decreased by -1,200 men in other parts of East Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen) for the reduction in the whole of East Lancashire to be -800 men. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
| Total unemployment | Yearly change | Quarterly change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Denominator (all persons aged 16+ economically active) | Unemployment rate | With confidence interval ±% given below [§] | Number | % | In rate | Number | % | In rate | |
| Burnley Chorley Fylde Hyndburn Lancaster Pendle Preston Ribble Valley Rossendale South Ribble West Lancashire Wyre |
Please see model-based estimates of unemployment for local authority districts and unitary authorities. | |||||||||
| Lancashire (12 districts) | 18,200 | 317,300 | 5.7 | 1.6 | -7,500 | -29.2 | -2.7 | -3,400 | -15.7 | -1.1 |
| Blackburn with Darwen UA | 3,500 | 33,400 | 10.5 | 3.0 | -200 | -5.4 | -0.2 | 400 | 12.9 | 1.2 |
| Blackpool UA | 3,700 | 33,900 | 10.9 | 2.9 | 200 | 5.7 | 0.9 | -200 | -5.1 | -0.5 |
| East Lancashire | 10,700 | 132,100 | 8.1 | 2.0 | -1,100 | -9.3 | -0.8 | -800 | -7.0 | -0.6 |
| Lancashire West | 14,700 | 252,500 | 5.8 | 1.4 | -6,400 | -30.3 | -2.8 | -2,500 | -14.5 | -0.9 |
| Lancashire (14 authorities) | 25,400 | 384,600 | 6.6 | 1.2 | -7,500 | -22.8 | -2.1 | -3,300 | -11.5 | -0.8 |
| North West | 156,900 | 1,820,500 | 8.6 | 0.6 | -29,900 | -16.0 | -1.6 | -9,700 | -5.8 | -0.5 |
| England | 1,177,900 | 14,313,100 | 8.2 | 0.2 | -80,600 | -6.4 | -0.6 | -23,900 | -2.0 | -0.2 |
| Great Britain | 1,380,200 | 16,474,500 | 8.4 | 0.2 | -77,000 | -5.3 | -0.5 | -26,200 | -1.9 | -0.1 |
| United Kingdom | 1,421,700 | 16,933,300 | 8.4 | 0.2 | -76,100 | -5.1 | -0.5 | -27,200 | -1.9 | -0.2 |
| ! Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2) | ||||||||||
| * Estimate and confidence interval unreliable since the group sample size is small (3-9) | ||||||||||
| ~ Estimate is less than 500 | ||||||||||
| § 95% confidence interval of percentage figure | ||||||||||
| Source: Office for National Statistics - National On-line Manpower Information System (N.O.M.I.S.) | ||||||||||
Male unemployment in the North West of England stood at 156,900, or 8.6% (+/-0.6%), but is not statistically greater than the UK rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2). Table 2 and Figure 4 refer.
The unemployment rate for males at 5.7% (+/- 1.6%), or 18,200 men in the Lancashire County 12-authority area, and the 25,400 unemployed men in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region, or 6.6% (+/- 1.2%), were statistically lower than the UK male unemployment rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%). Table 2 and Figure 4 refer.
The number of unemployed men in the Lancashire West area totalled 14,700 and the male unemployment rate at 5.8% (+/- 1.4%) was statistically lower than the UK male unemployment rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%). The Lancashire West area unemployment rate for men was also statistically lower than the Blackpool rate of 10.9% (+/- 2.9%), the Blackburn with Darwen rate of 10.5% (+/- 3.0%) and the North West male rate of 8.6% (+/- 0.6%).
If the figures for Blackpool are removed from the Lancashire West total, the male unemployment rate for the Lancashire West area (excluding Blackpool) will be lower still. There are however likely to be variation across the seven districts (excluding Blackpool). Table 2 and Figures 4 and 5 refer.
Male unemployment in East Lancashire stood at 10,700 men with an unemployment rate of 8.1% (+/- 2.0%) for the year to March 2011. Owing to the wide and overlapping confidence intervals with those of the UK figure of 8.6% (+/- 0.2%), the rate could be higher, lower or equal to the UK rate, and the East Lancashire rate cannot therefore be said to be statistically different to the UK rate. Table 2 and Figures 4 and 6 refer.
The wide confidence limits associated with the male unemployment rates in Blackpool of 10.9% (+/- 2.9%) and Blackburn with Darwen at 10.5% (+/- 3.0%) also overlap with the UK rate of 8.4% (+/- 0.2%) and make it difficult to establish with any degree of certainty whether the unemployment rates for these two areas are above, below or equal to the UK rate. On balance, these official figures suggest that male unemployment errs towards being greater than the UK rate in these two unitary authorities (although the rate could be equal to the UK rate or even lower). Table 2 and Figure 4 refer.
The higher rates of male unemployment in both the Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority areas increase the male unemployment rates in the Lancashire West area, East Lancashire and the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region. Table 2 and Figures 4 and 6 refer.
Male and female unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment
Male unemployment at 18,200 in the county of Lancashire accounts for just under two thirds (64.3%) of the total unemployment figure of 28,300. In the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region, the 25,400 unemployed men account for 64.1% of the total unemployment figure of 39,600. These are both higher proportions than the UK figure of 59.9%. Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5 refer.
The significant falls in female unemployment in East Lancashire over the past year has increased the male proportion to 68.1% of the total and reduced the female percentage to 31.8%. By contrast male unemployment in the Lancashire West area accounts for 61.5% of the total. Please note that figures may not sum owing to rounding. Tables 1 and 2 and Figure 5 refer.
Male unemployment accounts for 68.2% of the total in East Lancashire area and 61.5% in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region. Figure 5 refers.
Yearly change in male unemployment
Whereas male unemployment in the UK decreased by just over 5.0% or by -76,100 men between March 2010 and March 2011, to 1,421,700 men, male unemployment fell much more significantly in Lancashire as a whole. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
Within the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area, male unemployment fell by -7,500 men (-29.2%). This reduced the male unemployment rate by -2.7% from 8.4% (+/- 1.9%) to 5.7% (+/- 1.6%) between the year ending March 2010 and the year ending March 2011. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
Male unemployment numbers in Blackburn with Darwen decreased by -200 men (-5.4%) in line with the UK percentage fall. This reduced the unemployment rate by -0.2% in Blackburn with Darwen over the year.
The number of unemployed men increased however by +200 (+5.7%) in Blackpool, increasing the unemployment rate by +0.9%. This was the only area to record an increase over the year in Lancashire (out of the geographic areas analysed within this dataset). The economically active denominators have fallen by in both Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen between the two datasets.
Overall, the number of unemployed males in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region had decreased by -7,500 men, or -22.8% to 25,400 males, and an unemployment rate of 6.6% (+/-1.2%) since a year earlier. The rate had reduced by -2.1%, from 8.7% (+/- 1.3%). This was the same numeric fall as recorded in the Lancashire 12 area. The numeric decrease in Blackburn with Darwen of -200 unemployed males had been cancelled out by the increase of +200 unemployed males in Blackpool. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
Figure 7 shows that male unemployment in the Lancashire West part of the sub-region has fallen significantly, by just over 30%, or -6,400 men since the previous year, from 21,100 to 14,700. This has reduced the male unemployment rate by -2.8% from 8.6% (+/- 1.7%) to 5.8% (+/- 1.4%). If the Blackpool numbers are excluded, the reduction is even greater in the remaining Lancashire West area (excluding Blackpool), where male unemployment will have fallen by -6,600 men, or -37.5%. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
Male unemployment has also fallen within East Lancashire over the year by -1,100 men, or -9.3%. This is also a greater percentage reduction than that of -5.1% recorded at the UK level. The unemployment rate has fallen by -0.8% in East Lancashire since the year ending March 2010. As male unemployment fell by -200 men in Blackburn with Darwen over the year, this means that male unemployment will have fallen by -900 men in other parts of East Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen). Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
Male unemployment trends in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
Figure 6 shows that official male unemployment in Lancashire was generally lower than the UK average before early 2007, although the high male unemployment in Blackpool, especially between the autumn of 2006 and 2007, pushed the rate for male unemployment in the Lancashire sub-region above the UK average for that period. Male unemployment increased sharply at the beginning of the recession, especially in Blackburn with Darwen, and was above the UK average from autumn of 2008 until late 2009. Since late 2009 male unemployment has increased at a lower rate than the UK average for Lancashire as a whole and has fallen back at faster pace than the UK, especially in recent months.
Male unemployment in Blackburn with Darwen has generally been higher than the UK average from late 2005 but had shown a reduction just before the recession began in 2008, from which point male unemployment increased again to be higher than the UK average. It fell back at faster pace than the UK from March 2010, but has increased again in the last six months. Figure 6 refers.
Male unemployment in Blackpool was particularly high between the year ending September 2006 and the year ending June 2007 and has been high again since the year ending September 2009. Male unemployment in Blackpool had followed a similar track to Blackburn with Darwen, falling just before the recession took hold in 2008. In Blackpool however male unemployment remained about the same level as the UK male unemployment rate or lower between the year ending September 2008 and June 2009 before increasing sharply again in the year ending September 2009. Male unemployment in Blackpool has shown further increases over recent datasets and remains high. Figure 6 refers.
Male unemployment trends in East Lancashire and the Lancashire West area
The high rate of male unemployment in East Lancashire, together with the rising level of male unemployment in the Lancashire West area since 2008, pushed the male unemployment rate in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region above the UK male rate between the year ending September 2008 and the year ending September 2009. Figure 7 refers.
Male unemployment has fallen in both the Lancashire West area and the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region in recent months, but has continued to fluctuate in East Lancashire. Figure 7 refers.
Figure 7 indicates that male unemployment in East Lancashire has been a problem since 2006/07, increasing rapidly well before the financial crisis and economic downturn took hold in 2008. Conversely, the Lancashire West area of the sub-region has had a lower male unemployment rate than UK average since 2005, which, although it increased rapidly since the start of the recession, has continued to be below or equal to the male unemployment rate in the UK throughout the economic downturn to date. The Lancashire West male unemployment rate has however fallen back to now be statistically lower the UK male rate in recent datasets.
Please note that the size of the male workforce in the Lancashire West area is 91% larger (almost double) than that in East Lancashire. The male workforces in both Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool unitary authorities have similar totals and each account for just under 9% of the total in the broader Lancashire 14 sub-region. Table 2 refers.
Quarterly change in male unemployment
The change in figures from the previous set of data (for the year ending December 2010), show that male unemployment decreased at a much faster pace across the majority of the Lancashire sub-region than experienced in the UK as a whole. The exception within Lancashire was Blackburn with Darwen, which recorded a second consecutive quarterly increase. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
Nationally, the number of males unemployed decreased slightly between the year ending December 2010 and the year ending March 2011, by -27,200 persons (or -1.9%). This reduced the unemployment rate by -0.2% from at 8.6% (+/- 0.2%) to 8.4% (+/- 0.2) over the quarter. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
Within the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area however, male unemployment fell by -3,400 men (-15.7%), compared to -1.9% nationally. The male unemployment rate in the county fell by -1.1%, from 6.8% (+/- 1.6%) to 5.7% (+/- 1.6%) over the period. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
In the Lancashire West part of the sub-region, male unemployment dropped by -2,500 men (-14.5%). This reduced the male unemployment rate by- 0.9% from 6.7% (+/- 1.5%) for the year to December 2010 to 5.8% (+/- 1.4%) for the year to March 2011. Table 2 and Figure 6 refer.
The number of unemployed men in Blackpool decreased by -200 (-5.1%) over the previous quarter, reducing the unemployment rate by -0.5% from 11.4% (+/- 2.9%) to10.9% (+/- 2.9%). This means that other parts of the Lancashire West area (excluding Blackpool) must have recorded a reduction in the number of unemployed males by -2,300 for the reduction in the whole of the Lancashire West area to be -2,500 men. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
The number of unemployed men within East Lancashire decreased by -800 (-7.0%) on the previous quarter, This reduced the male unemployment rate in East Lancashire by -0.6% from 8.7% (+/- 2.1%) to 8.1% (+/- 2.0%) for the year ending March 2011. Table 2 and Figure 7 refer.
In Blackburn with Darwen unitary authority however the number of unemployed men increased quite markedly by +400 (+12.9%) on the previous quarter (since the year ending in December 2010). This added 1.2% to the unemployment rate taking it to 10.5% (+/- 3.0%). As the number of males increased by +400 in Blackburn with Darwen since the previous dataset, this indicates that male unemployment must have decreased by -1,200 in other parts of East Lancashire (excluding Blackburn with Darwen) for the reduction in the whole of East Lancashire to be -800 men. Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
Overall, the male unemployment rate fell by a lower percentage in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region (-2.1%) than within the county (-2.7%). This was because of the increase in male unemployment in Blackburn with Darwen (+400). Table 2 and Figures 6 and 7 refer.
Female unemployment (females aged 16+) - April 2010 to March 2011
Revised figures
Please note that in May 2011 the Annual Population Survey and official unemployment statistics were revised back to 2004. Figures presented in previous reports may therefore differ to the revised figures in this and future reports.
Official female unemployment in the UK for the year between April 2010 and March 2011 totalled 951,400 with an unemployment rate of 6.6% (+/- 0.2%). The UK rate has fluctuated only slightly over the past year or so. Some of the variation in the UK female unemployment rate has happened because of changes to economically active female population denominator. Table 3 and Figure 8 refer.
Official female unemployment rates for the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area at 3.8% (+/- 1.3%), the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region at 4.4% (+/- 1.0%) , the Lancashire West area at 4.3% (+/- 1.3%) and East Lancashire at 4.5% (+/- 1.7) were statistically lower than the UK female unemployment rate of 6.6% (+/- 0.2%) for the year April 2010 to March 2011. Table 3 and Figure 8 refer.
| Total unemployment | Yearly change | Quarterly change | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Denominator (all persons aged 16+ economically active) | Unemployment rate | With confidence interval ±% given below [§] | Number | % | In rate | Number | % | In rate | |
| Burnley Chorley Fylde Hyndburn Lancaster Pendle Preston Ribble Valley Rossendale South Ribble West Lancashire Wyre |
Please see model-based estimates of unemployment for local authority districts and unitary authorities. | |||||||||
| Lancashire (12 districts) | 10,100 | 269,100 | 3.8 | 1.3 | -2,900 | -22.3 | -1.3 | -1,800 | -15.1 | -0.6 |
| Blackburn with Darwen UA | 2,200 | 27,400 | 8.1 | 2.9 | -400 | -15.4 | -1.1 | 200 | 10.0 | 0.7 |
| Blackpool UA | 1,900 | 29,100 | 6.4 | 2.3 | -300 | -13.6 | -1.0 | -100 | -5.0 | -0.3 |
| East Lancashire | 5,000 | 110,900 | 4.5 | 1.7 | -4,000 | -44.4 | -3.7 | -1,000 | -16.7 | -0.8 |
| Lancashire West | 9,200 | 214,600 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 400 | 4.5 | 0.0 | -700 | -7.1 | -0.4 |
| Lancashire (14 authorities) | 14,200 | 325,500 | 4.4 | 1.0 | -3,600 | -20.2 | -1.3 | -1,700 | -10.7 | -0.5 |
| North West | 105,300 | 1,562,200 | 6.7 | 0.5 | -3,200 | -2.9 | -0.3 | -600 | -0.6 | -0.1 |
| England | 811,600 | 12,047,700 | 6.7 | 0.2 | -10,700 | -1.3 | -0.1 | 8,300 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Great Britain | 936,900 | 13,979,400 | 6.7 | 0.2 | -400 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14,400 | 1.6 | 0.1 |
| United Kingdom | 951,400 | 14,355,000 | 6.6 | 0.2 | -1,900 | -0.2 | -0.1 | 12,400 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| ! Estimate and confidence interval not available since the group sample size is zero or disclosive (0-2) | ||||||||||
| * Estimate and confidence interval unreliable since the group sample size is small (3-9) | ||||||||||
| ~ Estimate is less than 500 | ||||||||||
| § 95% confidence interval of percentage figure | ||||||||||
| Source: Office for National Statistics - National On-line Manpower Information System (N.O.M.I.S.) | ||||||||||
The female unemployment rate for Blackburn with Darwen at 8.1% (+/- 2.9%) suggests that it is greater than the UK average of 6.6% (+/- 0.2%) - although the difference is not statistically significant (as the rate could also actually be below or equal to the UK rate, owing to the overlapping confidence intervals). Table 3 and Figure 8 refer.
Similarly for Blackpool, owing to the female unemployment rates overlapping with the UK rate, it is not possible to say with any confidence whether the rates are higher, lower or equal to the UK rate.Table 3 and Figure 8 refer.
Yearly change in female unemployment
Since the previous year, female unemployment numbers decreased only marginally within the UK, by -1,900 women. The fall in the UK female unemployment rate from 6.7% (+/- 0.2%) a year earlier has occurred because of an increase in the female economically active denominator between the two dates. Table 3 and Figure 9 refer.
Female unemployment rates have fallen quite markedly within both the County of Lancashire 12-authority area and the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region over the year, by -1.3%. This compares with a fall in the UK rate of just -0.1% over the period. Table 3 and Figure 9 refer.
The falls at the Lancashire level have been because of substantial falls in the number of unemployed females in East Lancashire (-4,000 women (-44.4%)) and to a lesser extent Blackpool (-300 (-13.6%)). These falls have reduced the rates in these areas by -3.7% and -1.0%, respectively. Table 3 and Figure 9 refer.
Female unemployment trends in Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool
Figure 9 shows that official female unemployment rates for both the Lancashire 12-athority area and the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region were generally lower than the UK female average for most of the period since the year ending December 2004. Rates were above the UK average however between the year ending September 2007 and the year ending September 2008, but they have since fared much better than the UK since the year ending June 2009, falling substantially from this date compared to the UK.
Female unemployment rates in Blackburn with Darwen have tended to be above the UK female unemployment rate for every quarter since December 2004, except for the year ending December 2008. Female unemployment then increased rapidly as the recession took hold, fell back from the year ending March 2010, but in recent months has increased once again – by 22.2% since the year ending September 2010. The difference in rates may not be statistically significant.
In Blackpool, female unemployment rates tended to be below the UK female unemployment rate between the year ending June 2006 and the year ending December 2008. Female unemployment also increased rapidly in Blackpool as the recession took hold. However, since the year ending March 2010, female unemployment has fallen slightly and now appears to be in line with the UK rate (the difference in rates may not be statistically significant ). Figure 9 refers.
These falls have occurred despite recent rises in female unemployment in Blackburn with Darwen over the past two datasets, since the year ending September 2010). Table 3 and Figure 9 refer.
In the Lancashire West area of the sub-region, female unemployment has increased by +400 women over the year (+4.5%). This had no effect on the female rate in the area which remained at 4.3% (+/-1.3%). The female unemployment figures have fluctuated over the year. Table 3 and Figure 10 refer.
Female unemployment trends in East Lancashire and the Lancashire West area
Figure 10 indicates that the female unemployment rates in East Lancashire have tended to be above the UK average rates for female unemployment since the year ending March 2007 (before the recession). This is contrary to the Lancashire West area of the sub-region, where female unemployment rates have tended to be lower than the UK female unemployment rates (with the exception of the period between the year ending December 2007 and the year ending September 2008).
Female unemployment numbers have however dropped significantly in East Lancashire by 44.4% since the year ending March 2010. Female unemployment in the Lancashire West area has dropped by a quarter since the year ending June 2009, despite some increases over the last year.
Quarterly change
The number of unemployed women increased slightly in the UK by +12,400 (+1.3%) from the previous set of data (for the year ending December 2010) although the UK female unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.6% (+/- 0.2%) over the period. Table 3 and Figures 9 and 10 refer.
Contrary to the UK, female unemployment and unemployment rates decreased in most parts of Lancashire.
The exception to the decreases in Lancashire was Blackburn with Darwen, which recorded an increase of +200 females (+10%) since the previous dataset (year ending December 2010). Female unemployment in Blackburn with Darwen has now increased by +22.2% (over a fifth) since the year ending September 2010. Table 3 and Figures 9 and 10 refer.
Despite increases to female unemployment numbers in Blackburn with Darwen (+200), the number of unemployed women in East Lancashire (which includes Blackburn with Darwen) fell quite markedly, by -1,000 females, or -16.7% (a sixth) over the previous figures (for the year ending December 2010). This reduced the unemployment rate for the area by -0.8% from 5.3% (+/- 1.8%) to 4.5% (+/-1.7%). This rate is now statistically lower than the UK female unemployment rate of 6.6% (+/- 0.2%). Table 3 and Figure 10 refer.
Since the recent peak in female unemployment in East Lancashire which was recorded for the year ending March 2010 at 9,000 women, or 8.2% (+/- 0.2%), the number of unemployed females has dropped by -4,000 women (-44.4%) to 5,000 females and a rate of 4.5% (+/- 1.7%) – a fall in the rate of -3.7%. Table 3 and Figure 10 refer.
As the number of unemployed females increased by +200 women in Blackburn with Darwen (part of East Lancashire), this suggests the other parts of East Lancashire achieved greater reductions in female unemployment of -1,200 women in order that the East Lancashire figure of -1,000 women could be achieved. Table 3 refers.
Female unemployment in the Lancashire County Council 12-authority area fell by -1,800 women (-15.1%) since the year ending December 2010, by -1,700 women (-10.7%) in the broader Lancashire 14-authority sub-region, by -100 (-5.0%) in the Blackpool unitary authority and by -700 women (-7.1%) in the Lancashire West area (which includes Blackpool UA).