21/04/2010

UK Unemployment Rises To 2.5M

UK unemployment crept up in the first three months of the year to reach its highest level in more than 13 years.

Data from the Office for National Statistics showed the unemployment rate for the three months to February 2010 was 8 percent.

The jobless total is now at its highest since 1994.

This was an increase of 0.1 percent on the previous quarter with 43,000 people becoming unemployed during the period taking the total within the UK to 2.5 million.

Commenting on the labour market figures , David Kern, Chief Economist at the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said:"These figures are disappointing, but not surprising given the worrying trends that have been apparent in recent months. They support the BCC's forecast that unemployment is set to reach 2.65 million later this year."

The ONS figures also showed youth unemployment rising, with 929,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work in the December to February period - a rise of 4,000 on the previous three months. Unemployment among the over-50s rose by 7,000 to 396,000.

However, the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in March by 32,900 to 1.54 million - a much sharper fall than expected.

Average weekly earnings including bonuses were also up 2.3% in the three months to February compared with the year before.

The research revealed a rise in the number of people classed as economically inactive - those out of work and not seeking work.

They rose by 110,000 to a record total of 8.16 million, equivalent to 21.5% of the population.

The majority of that rise was due to an increase in the number of students, as young people decided to enter education instead of seek jobs.

(LB/GK)

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