UK unemployment hits 17-year high: 2.53 million
UK unemployment hit a new high yesterday as it rose by 27,000 in the three months to the end of January to 2.53 million, the highest since 1994.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the jobless rate was now 8%, the highest since 1996.
However, the ONS figures also showed that the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance fell by 10,200 in February to 1.45 million.
Another record high and cause for real concern was reached in the unemployment rate of 16-24 year olds, which shows 974,000 people are now out of work. This is up by 0.8% (30,000) to 20.6%, the highest since records began in 1992.
The unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds was also at an all-time high at 18.3%. Martina Milburn, chief executive of youth charity The Prince’s Trust, said: “Each month this year youth unemployment figures have reached record levels. Sadly Britain is breaking records for all the wrong reasons. We need to help young people back into work to strengthen the economy, communities and families.”
The jobs data showed that number of people in work increased by 32,000 to 29.16 million, the highest figure since last autumn. A record number of 50-64-year-olds were in work – their numbers rose by 25,000 to 7.3 million.
Public sector employment fell by 45,000 in the final quarter of 2010 to 6.2 million, even before the full impact of the government’s spending cuts started to take effect. While employment in private firms increased by 77,000 to almost 23 million.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has expressed his concern with youth unemployment, “disappointing, once again” but said that the overall figures was a “very mixed picture”. Employment Minister, Chris Grayling, stated: “There’s been a welcome drop in the number of people on benefits and an increase in full-time private sector jobs but the rise in overall unemployment is a real concern”.
Finance Minister, George Osborne, will present his budget next Wednesday, with the government promising it will be the most “pro-growth” in a generation.
To see the Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures click here
To read DWP’s response to the ONS figures click here
Jason McGee-Abe
Project Support Officer
