Unemployment is one of the key characteristics of Britain's inner cities. This paper examines labour market processes and their policy implications within an inner-city and a suburban area of an economically depressed city in England, Sheffield. Five major themes are examined: markedly contrasting unemployment rates within the two areas and their policy implications; job barriers, aspirations and opportunities; skills attainment and training issues; differential unemployment rates affecting specific socio-economic groups in each locality; and questions surrounding poverty.
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