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| UK jobless total at 12-year high | UK jobless total at 12-year high |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| UK unemployment rose to 2.261 million in the three months to April, the highest since November 1996, the Office for National Statistics said. | UK unemployment rose to 2.261 million in the three months to April, the highest since November 1996, the Office for National Statistics said. |
| The jobless rate rose to 7.2%, the highest since July 1997, but still less than expected. | The jobless rate rose to 7.2%, the highest since July 1997, but still less than expected. |
| The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 39,000 in May, less than the 60,000 which had been forecast by analysts. | The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 39,000 in May, less than the 60,000 which had been forecast by analysts. |
| The claimant count rate rose to 4.8%, the highest since November 1997. | The claimant count rate rose to 4.8%, the highest since November 1997. |
| Average earnings rose 0.8%, more than expected, in the three months to April, the ONS said. | Average earnings rose 0.8%, more than expected, in the three months to April, the ONS said. |
| This reflects the timing of bonus payments in the financial services sector, it said. | This reflects the timing of bonus payments in the financial services sector, it said. |
| The number of people in work fell by 271,000 over the three months to 29.11 million, the biggest quarterly drop since comparable records began in 1971. | The number of people in work fell by 271,000 over the three months to 29.11 million, the biggest quarterly drop since comparable records began in 1971. |
| The number of vacancies fell from 659,000 in May 2008 to 424,000 in May this year - a 35.6% drop. | The number of vacancies fell from 659,000 in May 2008 to 424,000 in May this year - a 35.6% drop. |
| Youth problems | Youth problems |
| STRUGGLING SCHOOL LEAVERS The very able students from the leafy suburbs will always find somewhere to go. It's going to be the less able, less confident who are going to be most disadvantaged Helen Pegg, head teacher Big choices for school leavers | |
| Young people have been particularly hard hit by the recession. In the three months to April, 462,000 people aged 16 and 17 were in employment, 16.5% less than in the same period a year earlier. | Young people have been particularly hard hit by the recession. In the three months to April, 462,000 people aged 16 and 17 were in employment, 16.5% less than in the same period a year earlier. |
| In the same three months, 3.5m people in the 18-to-24 age range were in employment, down 4.8% from the same period a year earlier. | In the same three months, 3.5m people in the 18-to-24 age range were in employment, down 4.8% from the same period a year earlier. |
| "Young people are experiencing labour difficulties, which will intensify over the summer as this year's school and college leavers enter the labour market," Nigel Meager, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, said. | "Young people are experiencing labour difficulties, which will intensify over the summer as this year's school and college leavers enter the labour market," Nigel Meager, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, said. |
| The number of men and women of retirement age - plus 65 for men or plus 60 for women - in employment rose by 2.6% in the same period from a year earlier, the only age group to register a rise. | The number of men and women of retirement age - plus 65 for men or plus 60 for women - in employment rose by 2.6% in the same period from a year earlier, the only age group to register a rise. |
| Green shoots? | Green shoots? |
| Analysts welcomed the data, but said it was too early to hail it as a turning point in the recession. | Analysts welcomed the data, but said it was too early to hail it as a turning point in the recession. |
| David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "These jobless figures are slightly better than feared, but the overall situation remains grim... It is much too early to talk about the end of recession and it is important not to withdraw the policy stimulus before there is firmer evidence that the economy has stabilised." | David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "These jobless figures are slightly better than feared, but the overall situation remains grim... It is much too early to talk about the end of recession and it is important not to withdraw the policy stimulus before there is firmer evidence that the economy has stabilised." |
| "We are certainly moving in the right direction and this is one of a number of very encouraging signals that we have seen," said Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas. | "We are certainly moving in the right direction and this is one of a number of very encouraging signals that we have seen," said Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas. |
| However, he added: "The economy may actually start to expand, but it won't be very fast... and until the economy is growing in line with its long-term average we will continue to lose jobs and we will continue to see downward pressure on wages." | However, he added: "The economy may actually start to expand, but it won't be very fast... and until the economy is growing in line with its long-term average we will continue to lose jobs and we will continue to see downward pressure on wages." |
| "It's better than expected. It is is probably still too soon to conclude that we have reached any turning point, but it is moderately encouraging," said Ross Walker, the UK economist at RBS Financial Markets. | "It's better than expected. It is is probably still too soon to conclude that we have reached any turning point, but it is moderately encouraging," said Ross Walker, the UK economist at RBS Financial Markets. |
| Philip Shaw, the chief economist at Investec, said: "Once again, unemployment figures show a smaller-than-expected rise in the jobless total, which is good news." | Philip Shaw, the chief economist at Investec, said: "Once again, unemployment figures show a smaller-than-expected rise in the jobless total, which is good news." |