UK unemployment rises to 2.49 million

Wednesday, 17 August 2011 10:07

The UK economic recovery received another blow today as unemployment figures were released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Unemployment in the UK increased by 38,000 to 2.49 million in the three months to the end of June. The figures were unexpected and provide further gloomy news for the UK economy.

Daniel Callaghan, a director at MBA & Company, said: "After a brief respite in the unemployment data last month, these latest figures paint a more realistic, but bleaker picture of the economy.

"The UK jobs market has been in dire straits over the last few weeks. Banking sector recruitment has been frozen and confidence is low in the business market."

The number of people claiming jobless benefits also increased by 37,100 to 1.56 million, the largest increase since May 2009.

Redundancies also went up by 32,000 to 154,000 in the three months to the end of June. However, the number of people in work increased by 25,000 to reach 2.97 million, but this was mainly down to an increase in part-time work.

The rate of unemployment now stands at 7.9 per cent of the economically active population, up by 0.1 per cent in the quarter. The number of people unemployed for up to six months rose by 66,000 to 1.23 million.

The claimant count also increased by 37,000 in July, the highest increase since July 2009. The number of unemployed women increased by 21,000 on the quarter to reach 1.05 million; the highest number since May 1988.

The number of people over 16 who are employed increased by 25,000 on the quarter and by 251,000 on the year to reach 29.27 million. The amount of part-time jobs increased by 83,000, to reach 1.26 million. This is the highest figure since records began.

The number of people classes as economically inactive between the ages of 16 to 64 fell by 23,000 over the quarter to reach 9.3 million.

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