16/11/2005

Little change in UK's unemployment rate

The latest UK unemployment figures have revealed little change in the number of people out of work.

The ILO unemployment rate was 4.7%, unchanged on the same period last year and around the lowest figure seen for 30 years. According to the ONS figures, there are 28.8 million people in work in June to August 2005, more than ever before - and 74.9% of the working age population are now working, the highest figure since 1990.

However, despite a strong rise in employment, claimant unemployment rose by 12,100 in October, continuing a trend seen since the beginning of 2005, though separate figures published this month show falling numbers on other welfare benefits.

In May 2005 the number of lone parents on benefit was 34,000 lower than a year ago, while the number claiming incapacity benefits fell 41,000 over the same period.

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Employment and Welfare Reform, welcomed the figures: "The latest figures show robust growth in the number of people in work - up nearly 125,000 in the last three months alone, with over 330,000 more people in work than last year. Most of this reflects more people in full-time, permanent jobs.

"The good news is that the rise in employment reflects people who had not previously looked for a job moving back into work. Over the last year the number of people classed as economically inactive has continued to fall - down by 180,000 excluding students," Margaret Hodge continued.

"The last year has also seen the overall drop in the number of people claiming out-of-work benefits continue. Although the rise in claimant unemployment is disappointing, this has been more than offset by further falls in the number of people claiming other benefits. I have asked Jobcentre Plus to re-double its efforts - to build on its encouraging success in cutting the numbers on lone parent and incapacity benefits, and to ensure it is doing all it can to help those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance back into work," the Minister concluded.

The figures also revealed a sharp drop in the number of job vacancies, which on average in the three months ending October 2005 were 605,100, down 30,700 from three months ago and down 33,300 from the same period a year earlier.

There were 2.3 vacancies per 100 employee jobs, down 0.1 from the previous quarter.

(SP)

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