Unemployement in Maidstone and Kent

Saddened to see that unemployment in Kent has risen dramatically in every borough in the county, bucking the national trend. Maidstone was worst hit proportionally with an 8.1% rise in the number of JSA claimants pushing the total to 2536 according to the KM - a rise of 189 people.

It is hardly surprising though given Maidstone's reliance on retail and the continued downward spiral that the high street faces. I have been arguing for years that Maidstone needs to refocus its economy away from retail and into creative arts, manufacture and farming.

I hope that the 2536 people looking for work find it soon.