11 Nov The East of England has lost almost 60,000 manufacturing jobs since the financial crash
Under the Conservatives vital contracts are being sent overseas, says GMB Union
The East of England has lost almost 60,000 manufacturing jobs since the financial crash, new analysis by GMB has shown.
The figures, discussed at GMB’s Manufacturing Conference in Belfast this week, show that 59,100 jobs in the sector disappeared between 2007 and 2019, a massive fall of 18%.
In 2007, the East supported 329,400 permanent and temporary manufacturing jobs, but by 2019 that figure had slumped to 269,900.
GMB says the slump has been worsened by Conservative Government’s lack of industrial strategy and failure to invest in UK jobs is costing a generation of workers their futures.
The union is campaigning for procurement decisions to take account of tax and spending in the UK, as well as subsides paid to non-UK competitors.
Jude Brimble, GMB National Secretary, said:
“It’s a scandal the Conservatives are willing to gamble away manufacturing’s future.
“Under their watch, vital contracts are being sent overseas at the expense of industries including shipbuilding and renewables manufacturing.
“The absence of any kind of industrial strategy, coupled with a complete lack of investment is robbing a whole generation of their futures.
“This has not happened by chance. There are thousands of jobs that could be created in sustainable energy and renewables, but this government have failed to invest and let our contracts go overseas.
“Labour are promising a green industrial revolution that creates the jobs our manufacturing industry that communities are crying out for.”
