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Uk unemployment falls

Official figures reveal that the North East generated 11,000 extra jobs as UK unemployment fell by 17,000 in the three months to the end of February.

The number of unemployed stands at 2.48 million, the first drop since last autumn, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment in the UK had fallen to 7.8%.

Employment minister Chris Grayling said the figures were another welcome step in the right direction but that there was still work to do.

“It’s good news to see a rise in the number of full time jobs in the private sector and the fall in unemployment is welcome.

It is also reassuring to see a fall in the number of young people not in full time education who are unemployed.“

“However, there are challenges ahead and our priority is to continue to support the economy, by reducing the deficit and putting in place measures to encourage growth in the private sector.”

Unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds stood at 963,000, with the jobless rate for young people remaining above 20%.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance rose by 700 in March to 1.45 million, the ONS said.

It added that the number people in employment rose by 143,000 to 29.23 million, compared with a pre-recession peak of 29.56 million recorded for the three months to the end of May 2008.

While the number of unemployed men fell by 31,000 in the three months to the end of February, the number of jobless women rose by 14,000.

Although the number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 12,000 over the quarter to 963,000, there had been fears the number could breach the one million mark.

The rate of unemployment among 50 to 64-year-olds was unchanged at 4.8%, while the rate for those over 65 fell to 1.9% from 2.5%.

Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s unemployment statistics, said:

“There are some encouraging signs but people will be really worried that the numbers on the dole have gone up again.

“This is helping push the benefits bill up by £12.5 billion which is £500 per household. That makes the deficit harder to pay down and means the Tory-led Government is putting up taxes and cutting tax credits.

“The picture is bleak for our young people with youth unemployment dangerously close to 1 million. There are fewer vacancies than there were last year and 5 five people chasing every job.”

“The Government still needs to do more, particularly for our young people. Labour has set out an alternative; a sensible, reasonable tax on bankers’ bonuses could finance 90,000 jobs for young people right now.”

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