Economically Inactive and Unemployed in Britain's Seaside Towns, 2002

The aim of the research is to investigate the causes of the high claimant unemployment now found in most of Britain's seaside towns. The project examines the validity of explanations based not only on the decline of the traditional tourist base but also on migration patterns, the operation of the benefits system and housing factors such as the availability of privately rented former seaside accommodation suited to some benefit claimants. The extent to which unemployment in seaside towns differs in origin and nature from that found in other blackspots, such as the cities and coalfields, is being given particular attention. The research blends an analysis of aggregate labour market data on jobs, unemployment, economic inactivity, migration, and commuting, covering all the principal seaside towns across Britain, with a survey of non-employed adults of working age in selected towns.<br> The questionnaire contains some elements which are identical to the survey of Economically Inactive and Unemployed Men, 1997-1998 (SN:4078). Subgroups of this survey can be compared to subgroups from the previous survey.