THE number of unemployed people in the North West has grown by 5,000 in the last year, new figures reveal.

According to an Office for National Statistics labour force survey, 3.18million people were in paid employment in the North West by June this year.

Some 214,000 people are unemployed in the North West.

Although statistics have not been released for East Lancashire boroughs for the period up to June, figures for the year to December 2007 have been published.

These show Blackburn with Darwen had 4,100 unemployed and an employment rate of 67.6 per cent, while Burnley had 2,500 unemployed and a 63.6 per cent ratio of people in work.

In Hyndburn, 2,200 were out of work with 63.3 per cent of the working age population in work and this was matched by Pendle which had 71.1 per cent in work against 2,800 without a job.

Over this period Rossendale had 1,800 unemployed, 75.3 per cent in work and this compares against Ribble Valley propping up the league with 800 unemployed and 85.2 per cent with a job.