UK announces worst unemployment figures for three years
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit in the UK has risen to the worst level since 2003 after the highest monthly increase in 15 years, new figures showed today.
The so-called claimant count jumped by 14,600 last month to 919,700, the biggest monthly rise since the end of 1992.
The total number of people out of work rose by 37,000 in the three months to January to 1.53 million.
The rise was caused entirely by an increase in the number of jobless women, according to the Office For National Statistics.
The total, which includes people who are out of work but not receiving benefit, has increased by 109,000 over the past year.
Employment fell by 7,000 in the latest quarter to 28.8million, today’s figures showed.
The number of people classed as economically inactive rose by 65,000 over the three months to January to 7.96million – the highest figure since comparable records began in 1971.
The total includes people who have taken early retirement or given up looking for a job, students, those looking after a family or workers who are off sick.
Jobs continued to be lost in manufacturing firms, down by 111,000 in the latest three months compared with a year ago to 3.08million, the lowest since records began in 1978.
A total of 142,000 people said they were made redundant in the three months to January, an increase of 4,000 on a year ago.
Average earnings increased by 3.5% in the year to January, unchanged on the previous month’s figure. Excluding bonuses, the rate was 3.8%, a rise of 0.1%.
Wage growth in the public sector continued to outstrip increases in private firms – 4.4% compared with 3.3%.
There were 77,000 working days lost in January because of industrial disputes, the highest monthly total since November 2004.
Unemployment in the regions between November and January was (tabulate under region, total unemployment, change on quarter, unemployment rate):
Northern Ireland 32,000 no change 4%.
North East 81,000 plus 2,000 6.7%.
North West 161,000 plus 5,000 4.8%.
Yorkshire and Humber 128,000 plus 6,000 5.1%.
East Midlands 102,000 plus 7,000 4.6%.
West Midlands 140,000 plus 14,000 5.3%.
East 131,000 plus 11,000 4.6%.
London 281,000 minus 6,000 7.2%.
South East 171,000 minus 8,000 4%.
South West 102,000 plus 13,000 4%.
Wales 70,000 plus 5,000 5%.
Scotland 133,000 minus 12,000 5.1%.
