The recession has hit blue collar workers in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and South Wales whereas London and the South East have been hit much harder by white collar job losses, according to new research published by the Local Government Association.

It shows that blue collar workers have lost the largest number of jobs over the course of the last twelve months, but white collar job losses are rising at a quicker rate.

Areas experiencing the biggest increase in JSA claimants from ‘elementary’ occupations, such as cleaners, catering assistants and labourers, are concentrated in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and south Wales - although the largest increases were recorded in Corby and Swindon.

The biggest increases for claimants from skilled trades work were in the West Midlands, south Yorkshire and the Mersey-Manchester corridor.

The areas with the biggest increases in manager claimants are in the South East and West Midlands. The largest increases in professional claimants are concentrated in London.