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16/03/2005
UK unemployment rises
The unemployment rate in the UK has risen, according to new figures published by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).
The new figures showed that the number of unemployed people increased by 22,000 in the last quarter to 1.41 million.
However, the ONS found that the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell by 700 to 813,300 in February, the lowest figures since June 1975.
In contrast, the ONS reported that the employment rate increased in the three months up to January 2005 – from 74.7% to 74.9%. The number of people in employment also increased by 127,000 over the quarter and by 219,000 over the year, taking the total number of those employed to 28.57 million.
However, the number of people in part-time employment fell by 22,000 from the previous quarter to 7.31 million.
The ONS also found that the number of jobs increased over the quarter by 126,000 to reach 30.53 million and the average number of job vacancies during the quarter also rose by 2,600 to reach 645,200. Over the year, to December, production industries workforce jobs were down 94,000, service sector jobs up 140,000 and other industries up by 88,000.
The redundancy rate for the quarter was 5.6 per 1,000 employees, a slight rise of 0.1% on the previous quarter. The annual rate of growth in average earnings also remained unchanged in January at 4.4%.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Work, Jane Kennedy, said: "More people are moving from welfare back into work, with employment up over 200 thousand in the last year and by over 2 million in the last eight years. The number of people claiming incapacity benefits is now falling, reversing the upward trend of the previous two decades. The last year has seen unemployment reach its lowest level for thirty years, and the number of lone parents on benefit has continued to fall."
(KMcA/SP)
The new figures showed that the number of unemployed people increased by 22,000 in the last quarter to 1.41 million.
However, the ONS found that the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell by 700 to 813,300 in February, the lowest figures since June 1975.
In contrast, the ONS reported that the employment rate increased in the three months up to January 2005 – from 74.7% to 74.9%. The number of people in employment also increased by 127,000 over the quarter and by 219,000 over the year, taking the total number of those employed to 28.57 million.
However, the number of people in part-time employment fell by 22,000 from the previous quarter to 7.31 million.
The ONS also found that the number of jobs increased over the quarter by 126,000 to reach 30.53 million and the average number of job vacancies during the quarter also rose by 2,600 to reach 645,200. Over the year, to December, production industries workforce jobs were down 94,000, service sector jobs up 140,000 and other industries up by 88,000.
The redundancy rate for the quarter was 5.6 per 1,000 employees, a slight rise of 0.1% on the previous quarter. The annual rate of growth in average earnings also remained unchanged in January at 4.4%.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Work, Jane Kennedy, said: "More people are moving from welfare back into work, with employment up over 200 thousand in the last year and by over 2 million in the last eight years. The number of people claiming incapacity benefits is now falling, reversing the upward trend of the previous two decades. The last year has seen unemployment reach its lowest level for thirty years, and the number of lone parents on benefit has continued to fall."
(KMcA/SP)
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