18/01/2012

Unemployment Rising By 1,300 A Day

The latest unemployment figures have revealed the UK unemployment rate is rising by some 1,300 workers per day.

Figures released on Wednesday by the Office of National statistics (ONS) revealed the unemployment rate was now at 8.4% of the economically active population. There is now 2.68 million unemployed people, representing an extra 118,000 in just the last three months.

The ONS said that the unemployment rate has not been higher since 1995 and the number of unemployed people has not been higher since 1994.

Meanwhile, the inactivity rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 23.1%, while there were 9.29 million economically inactive people living in the UK between 16 and 64.

Responding to the figures, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, Liam Byrne, said they confirmed the UK had an "unemployment emergency".

“Last month Chris Grayling told us how the labour market was stabilising, but today’s figures now confirm we have an unemployment emergency," Mr Byrne said.

He added: “Unemployment has now soared to highest level for a generation and long term youth unemployment has more than doubled since January last year. In America, Germany and Japan unemployment is either flat or falling. This is new proof that the Government must change course.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: "These figures are even worse than the bleak economic forecasts predicted, with new records achieved for youth and female unemployment.

"The fear is now that mass joblessness becomes a permanent scar on the UK - with unemployment rising by 1,300 a day towards the end of last year. The news for those in work isn't great either, with pay growth falling and more people having to move to into part-time and insecure self-employment.

Mr Barber said the UK was now in the midst of a "full blown jobs crisis" that was causing misery for millions and ruining any chance of an economic recovery.

"Ministers must start putting forward bold solutions to address this crisis, starting with a job guarantee for any young person out of work for six months."

(DW)

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