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| Unemployment increases by 137,000 | Unemployment increases by 137,000 |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The number of people out of work in the UK rose by 137,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to October - the highest level since 1997. | The number of people out of work in the UK rose by 137,000 to 1.86 million in the three months to October - the highest level since 1997. |
| This took the unemployment rate up to 6% from 5.8% previously, the Office for National Statistics said | This took the unemployment rate up to 6% from 5.8% previously, the Office for National Statistics said |
| People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in November rose 75,700 to 1.07 million - the largest rise since March 1991. | People claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in November rose 75,700 to 1.07 million - the largest rise since March 1991. |
| Several companies have announced big job cuts as the economic downturn begins to hit hard. | Several companies have announced big job cuts as the economic downturn begins to hit hard. |
| Map showing unemployment by region | Map showing unemployment by region |
| "It's obviously very, very weak. I think what's interesting is the scale of job losses this early in the cycle," said George Buckley, an economist at Deutsche Bank. | "It's obviously very, very weak. I think what's interesting is the scale of job losses this early in the cycle," said George Buckley, an economist at Deutsche Bank. |
| These people are not scroungers. They are blameless victims of a worldwide economic downturn and deserve to be treated as such TUC General Secretary, Brendan Barber Send us your comments class="" href="/1/hi/business/7786351.stm">Unemployment: real life stories | |
| "Unemployment is normally a lagging indicator so to see so many job losses this early in the cycle is extremely worrying." | "Unemployment is normally a lagging indicator so to see so many job losses this early in the cycle is extremely worrying." |
| Pound rattled | Pound rattled |
| The pound hit another record low against the euro after the unemployment data underscored just how weak the UK economy was. | The pound hit another record low against the euro after the unemployment data underscored just how weak the UK economy was. |
| The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose for a tenth consecutive month and climbed above the one million mark for the first time in eight years. | The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose for a tenth consecutive month and climbed above the one million mark for the first time in eight years. |
| HSBC, Leyland and Spanish bank Santander, which runs Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and parts of Bradford & Bingley, are among the many firms to have announced job cuts in recent months. | HSBC, Leyland and Spanish bank Santander, which runs Abbey, Alliance & Leicester and parts of Bradford & Bingley, are among the many firms to have announced job cuts in recent months. |
| On Wednesday, rail and bus firm National Express said it would cut up to 750 jobs as it acted to save costs. | On Wednesday, rail and bus firm National Express said it would cut up to 750 jobs as it acted to save costs. |
| "The latest unemployment figures are bleak and herald a return to the dark days of mass joblessness we hoped had gone forever, " said Dr John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development | "The latest unemployment figures are bleak and herald a return to the dark days of mass joblessness we hoped had gone forever, " said Dr John Philpott, chief economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development |
| Blameless victims | Blameless victims |
| The trades union umbrella body the TUC has predicted two million people will be out of work by Christmas, and says half a million people will be facing their second Christmas out of work. | The trades union umbrella body the TUC has predicted two million people will be out of work by Christmas, and says half a million people will be facing their second Christmas out of work. |
| It is calling for Jobseeker's Allowance to be raised from £60.50 to £75 a week. | It is calling for Jobseeker's Allowance to be raised from £60.50 to £75 a week. |
| Employment Minister Tony McNulty says unemployment figures were 'disappointing' | Employment Minister Tony McNulty says unemployment figures were 'disappointing' |
| "These people are not scroungers. They are blameless victims of a worldwide economic downturn and deserve to be treated as such," said TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber. | "These people are not scroungers. They are blameless victims of a worldwide economic downturn and deserve to be treated as such," said TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber. |
| "As well as more support to get back into work, unemployed people need more immediate financial support to help them cope with life on the dole." | "As well as more support to get back into work, unemployed people need more immediate financial support to help them cope with life on the dole." |
| Managers are expected to be hit hard by job cuts, with the Management Consultancies Association forecasting up to 360,000 will lose their jobs by 2010. | Managers are expected to be hit hard by job cuts, with the Management Consultancies Association forecasting up to 360,000 will lose their jobs by 2010. |
| The Prince's Trust has also warned that young people have so far borne the brunt of job losses. | The Prince's Trust has also warned that young people have so far borne the brunt of job losses. |
| It said that two out of five people who became unemployed in the past three months were under the age of 25. | It said that two out of five people who became unemployed in the past three months were under the age of 25. |
| The government is to unveil a new training scheme for the unemployed. | The government is to unveil a new training scheme for the unemployed. |
| It has allocated £158m to help those who have been made redundant develop new skills. | It has allocated £158m to help those who have been made redundant develop new skills. |
| The fund is supposed to make it easier for workers to get advice on training and support employers who want to improve the skills of their staff. | The fund is supposed to make it easier for workers to get advice on training and support employers who want to improve the skills of their staff. |
| Return to story | Return to story |