15/09/2004

Official figures show big rise in employment rate

Employment levels are up, and the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits is down, according to official figures out today.

The number of people in work in the UK was 28.3 million in the three months to July 2004, up 179,000 in a year. Official unemployment figures show a fall of 87,000 to 1.41 million over the same period.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in August 2004 was 830,200, a fall of 100,000 over the last year. It represents the lowest figure since July 1975.

The number of lone parents claiming Income Support is also down.

Minister for Work Jane Kennedy said: "These improvements have not come about by chance.

"The success of our economic policies means the UK now has the highest employment and lowest unemployment of the major world economies."

Evidence shows that the New Deal for Lone Parents has significantly improved the employment chances of participants, a department spokesperson said.

(gmcg)

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