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12/10/2011
UK Unemployment 'Breaks 17-Year Record'
Official figures released on Wednesday have revealed the UK unemployment rate has hit a 17-year high, rising by 114,000 between June and August to 2.57 million.
The Office of National Statistics revealed that the jobless rate had increased to 8.1 percent from 7.9% in the three months through July, at its highest rate since 1994.
Another startling revelation from the statistics was that youth unemployment was at an all time high, with almost a million people between 16 and 24 unemployed and not in education.
The total level of economic inactivity (being out of work and undertaking no education) was at 23.3%, which is relatively unchanged from last year.
Labour Shadow Work and Pension Secretary, Liam Byrne, said the unemployment statistics signalled a "day of judgement" for the Government.
"Today's figures are the clearest proof yet that the Government’s decision to cut too far, and too fast is hurting and just not working. Unemployment is soaring, and more young people are out of work than ever before.
"Britain now needs a change of direction. What we now need is a new plan like Labour's five point plan for jobs and growth. Getting people - and our young people - back to work is quite simply the safest, surest way to get the deficit down and put Britain on the right course for the future."
Mr Byrne said that Labour had summoned the Chancellor to the House of Commons for an all day debate on jobs and economy.
The number of people in employment fell by 178,000 in the three months through August, the most since July 2009, according to the statistics.
Employment Secretary, Chris Grayling, said what the UK was now seeing was "the impact of the international financial crisis".
He said although the UK was not in the euro, it was "not immune" to the problems currently being experienced in the eurozone and in countries such as Greece.
(DW/BMcC)
The Office of National Statistics revealed that the jobless rate had increased to 8.1 percent from 7.9% in the three months through July, at its highest rate since 1994.
Another startling revelation from the statistics was that youth unemployment was at an all time high, with almost a million people between 16 and 24 unemployed and not in education.
The total level of economic inactivity (being out of work and undertaking no education) was at 23.3%, which is relatively unchanged from last year.
Labour Shadow Work and Pension Secretary, Liam Byrne, said the unemployment statistics signalled a "day of judgement" for the Government.
"Today's figures are the clearest proof yet that the Government’s decision to cut too far, and too fast is hurting and just not working. Unemployment is soaring, and more young people are out of work than ever before.
"Britain now needs a change of direction. What we now need is a new plan like Labour's five point plan for jobs and growth. Getting people - and our young people - back to work is quite simply the safest, surest way to get the deficit down and put Britain on the right course for the future."
Mr Byrne said that Labour had summoned the Chancellor to the House of Commons for an all day debate on jobs and economy.
The number of people in employment fell by 178,000 in the three months through August, the most since July 2009, according to the statistics.
Employment Secretary, Chris Grayling, said what the UK was now seeing was "the impact of the international financial crisis".
He said although the UK was not in the euro, it was "not immune" to the problems currently being experienced in the eurozone and in countries such as Greece.
(DW/BMcC)
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