Dozens of people have joined the dole queue in the past two months, the latest available jobless numbers have shown.
There were 7,567 people on Jobseeker’s Allowance in Barking and Dagenham by February this year which means 6.6 per cent of those aged 16 to 64 in the borough were looking for work, compared to a 4.4 per cent average rate in London.
The figures show an increase of 52 unemployed residents since December, when the rate was 6.5 per cent (7,515).
Figures have been rising steadily since 2008 when the claimant rate was 3.4 per cent.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here