The number of people out of work has increased in half of London’s boroughs since the pandemic, figures revealed on Tuesday.
Sixteen boroughs had more people who were either unemployed or "economically inactive" in September 2022 compared to the year up to the Covid lockdowns in March 2020.
The highest increases were in Camden, which had 12,704 more working-age people out without a job. This was followed by Southwark (11,800), Croydon (10,400) and Barnet (10,000).
Across London there are more than 460,000 people who are either looking for a job or are economically inactive.
It comes amid a national rise in the number of people aged 16 and over who do not work. There are currently 1.3million unemployed people in the UK and a further 9million who are neither in work nor looking for a job.
During a visit to the Salvation Army’s employment plus service in East Ham today, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth criticised the Government’s record on employment.
He said: “Labour will get Britain back to work by guaranteeing Londoners genuine help and support to find a quality job.
"Under this government so many Londoners have been written off and forgotten, instead it’s Labour’s mission to help everybody find a good quality job so they can provide for themselves and family.”
Ministers are concerned that economic inactivity could hold back Britain’s growth.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has set up a review of policies to raise workforce participation and is expected to address the issue during the Budget on March 15.
