Over 150,000 steel jobs lost since 1980s

According to a new study more than 150,000 steel jobs have disappeared since the 1980s.

The GMB union said in 1981 there were 186,000 workers in the industry, now this has slumped to 32,000.

The Humber and Yorkshire suffered the biggest job losses by 40,000 then the West Midlands with 25,800 losses.

Ross Murdoch, GMB national officer said, “The decline of the UK’s steel industry is devastating to see.

“Consecutive UK governments have failed to protect our proud steel heritage, and now Theresa May is overseeing its demise.

“Ministers must be prepared to make use of all the options, including nationalisation in order to save British Steel and the wider steel industry.

“We need a genuine commitment to manufacturing in the UK which focuses on investment in infrastructure and improvements to technology and training.

“It’s time the government took their hands out of their pockets and stood up for steel.”