Partner Article

Jobless figures climb again

UNEMPLOYMENT in the UK rose 43,000 in the three months to February to 2.5m, the highest level for 16 years.

The increase, after three months of declines, took the unemployment rate to 8% of the workforce, the highest since 1996, said the Office for National Statistics.

Yorkshire and the Humber has the highest unemployment level at 9.6% of the workforce, up 2.1% on a year ago, while the North East, alongside the West Midlands, is close behind on 9.5%.

The 8% unemployment rate compares with 9.7% in the US and 10% for the eurozone.

Yvette Cooper, work and pensions secretary, said the figures showed “we are not out of the woods yet. That is why it is so important that we keep increasing the support to the unemployed, but also that we sustain the overall support for the economy”.

Theresa May, shadow work and pensions secretary, said it was a “clear sign that the government’s plans are not working”. She said the government was not giving enough support through the welfare system, which the Conservatives would reform.

Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose 2.3% on a year earlier, up from 0.8% for the three months to January, largely driven by the financial sector where bonuses were higher than last year.

Lai Wah Co, CBI Head of Economic Analysis, said: “Despite the decline in claimant count unemployment, the labour market remains weak. The number of people actually in work is still falling, there has been a further rise in long term unemployment and vacancies remain at low levels.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .