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| Record rise in UK jobless total | Record rise in UK jobless total |
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| UK unemployment rose by a record 281,000 to 2.38 million in the three months to May, the Office for National Statistics has said. | UK unemployment rose by a record 281,000 to 2.38 million in the three months to May, the Office for National Statistics has said. |
| The jobless rate increased to 7.6%, the highest in more than 10 years. | The jobless rate increased to 7.6%, the highest in more than 10 years. |
| The number of people claiming unemployment benefit increased by 23,800 in June to 1.56 million, which was less than analysts had forecast. | The number of people claiming unemployment benefit increased by 23,800 in June to 1.56 million, which was less than analysts had forecast. |
| Unemployment among young people has been especially acute, as firms cut jobs to reduce costs in the downturn. | Unemployment among young people has been especially acute, as firms cut jobs to reduce costs in the downturn. |
| Fear of unemployment | Fear of unemployment |
| ANALYSIS Hugh Pym, chief economics correspondent, BBC News On the face of it, the unemployment figures are horrific. A record quarterly increase of 281,000 cannot be explained any other way. | ANALYSIS Hugh Pym, chief economics correspondent, BBC News On the face of it, the unemployment figures are horrific. A record quarterly increase of 281,000 cannot be explained any other way. |
| The total of 2.38 million jobless is the highest since late 1995, before Labour came to power in the aftermath of the 1990s recession under the Conservatives. | The total of 2.38 million jobless is the highest since late 1995, before Labour came to power in the aftermath of the 1990s recession under the Conservatives. |
| But there is another side to the story. | But there is another side to the story. |
| The rise in the narrower claimant count in June was less than expected. | The rise in the narrower claimant count in June was less than expected. |
| Experts are scratching their heads over this. June's claimant count is the more up-to-date labour indicator. | Experts are scratching their heads over this. June's claimant count is the more up-to-date labour indicator. |
| ONS Officials point out that the rise in claimant count over the three months to May was about 220,000 - not far off the 281,000 on the wider measure. | ONS Officials point out that the rise in claimant count over the three months to May was about 220,000 - not far off the 281,000 on the wider measure. |
| But analysts are unconvinced. They want more analysis of the two measures. | But analysts are unconvinced. They want more analysis of the two measures. |
| Young people - those up to 24 years old - have been particularly hard hit with unemployment leaping to a 16-year high of 726,000. | Young people - those up to 24 years old - have been particularly hard hit with unemployment leaping to a 16-year high of 726,000. |
| The number of those out of work for more than a year rose by 46,000 to 528,000, the highest for 11 years. | The number of those out of work for more than a year rose by 46,000 to 528,000, the highest for 11 years. |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It's particularly worrying that over half a million unemployed people have been out of work for at least a year, including 133,000 young unemployed people." | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "It's particularly worrying that over half a million unemployed people have been out of work for at least a year, including 133,000 young unemployed people." |
| "With a new generation of school and college leavers soon starting to look for work, our unemployment crisis will get even bigger. | "With a new generation of school and college leavers soon starting to look for work, our unemployment crisis will get even bigger. |
| Separately on Wednesday a BBC survey showed two-thirds of people across the UK know someone who has lost a job in the recession, a BBC survey suggests. | Separately on Wednesday a BBC survey showed two-thirds of people across the UK know someone who has lost a job in the recession, a BBC survey suggests. |
| A further four in 10 fear losing their job in the current climate, the survey of 1,048 people by ComRes indicates. | A further four in 10 fear losing their job in the current climate, the survey of 1,048 people by ComRes indicates. |
| 'Conflicting signals' | 'Conflicting signals' |
| Even though economic conditions may be stabilising, economists expect unemployment to continue rising this year, as financial uncertainty persists. | Even though economic conditions may be stabilising, economists expect unemployment to continue rising this year, as financial uncertainty persists. |
| Vicky Redwood of Capital Economics said the latest figures contained "conflicting signals about whether conditions in the labour market are getting better or worse". | Vicky Redwood of Capital Economics said the latest figures contained "conflicting signals about whether conditions in the labour market are getting better or worse". |
| The increase in the unemployment total of 281,000 in the three months to May was the biggest quarterly rise since records of the ILO measure began in 1971. | The increase in the unemployment total of 281,000 in the three months to May was the biggest quarterly rise since records of the ILO measure began in 1971. |
| However, the rise in the claimant count in June was less than expected, and May's increase in the claimant count was revised down to 30,800 from the original estimate of 39,000. | However, the rise in the claimant count in June was less than expected, and May's increase in the claimant count was revised down to 30,800 from the original estimate of 39,000. |
| UK CLAIMANT COUNT To view the enhanced content on this page you need to have Javascript enabled and Flash player 9 installed.% of population claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, by parliamentary constituency. Source: ONS class="" href="/2/hi/business/7789784.stm">Unemployment in graphics Job cuts affect 'two in three' Reports from around the UK Mood map: Is the worst over? | |
| "The claimant count measure of unemployment in June posted its smallest rise in a year. However, the wider ILO measure posted its biggest rise on record," said Ms Redwood. | "The claimant count measure of unemployment in June posted its smallest rise in a year. However, the wider ILO measure posted its biggest rise on record," said Ms Redwood. |
| But, she said, unemployment was unlikely to fall until economic growth returned to its trend rate, and this would take a long time. | But, she said, unemployment was unlikely to fall until economic growth returned to its trend rate, and this would take a long time. |
| Of the different figures released, it is the internationally recognised ILO figure of 2.38 million that is the government's preferred measure for unemployment, because it is a more comprehensive indicator of the job market. | Of the different figures released, it is the internationally recognised ILO figure of 2.38 million that is the government's preferred measure for unemployment, because it is a more comprehensive indicator of the job market. |
| The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has called for an enquiry into this "conundrum" of the differing figures. | The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has called for an enquiry into this "conundrum" of the differing figures. |
| Vacancies | Vacancies |
| Average UK earnings including bonuses increased at their highest rate since December, up 2.3% in the three months to May from a year ago. | Average UK earnings including bonuses increased at their highest rate since December, up 2.3% in the three months to May from a year ago. |
| However, excluding bonuses average earnings rose at 2.6% - the lowest rate since records started in 2001. | However, excluding bonuses average earnings rose at 2.6% - the lowest rate since records started in 2001. |
| David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce described the figures as "grim reading". | David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce described the figures as "grim reading". |
| "On the basis of these numbers, we reaffirm our forecast that unemployment will peak at around 3.2 million next year." | "On the basis of these numbers, we reaffirm our forecast that unemployment will peak at around 3.2 million next year." |
| If we are to get Britain back to work, there will have to be large increases in the jobs available in hi-tech manufacturing and private service sectors such as the creative industries Rachel Reeves, economist and parliamentary candidate | If we are to get Britain back to work, there will have to be large increases in the jobs available in hi-tech manufacturing and private service sectors such as the creative industries Rachel Reeves, economist and parliamentary candidate |
| Not only is unemployment rising, figures show that the number of jobs available has also fallen. | Not only is unemployment rising, figures show that the number of jobs available has also fallen. |
| The number of vacancies dropped to a record low of 429,000 in the three months to June, down by 35,000 from the previous quarter. | The number of vacancies dropped to a record low of 429,000 in the three months to June, down by 35,000 from the previous quarter. |
| The number of unemployed men increased by almost 200,000 to 1.46 million, and 84,000 more women were out of work, putting female unemployment at 923,000. | The number of unemployed men increased by almost 200,000 to 1.46 million, and 84,000 more women were out of work, putting female unemployment at 923,000. |
| Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
| Wales was the only part of the UK to see unemployment fall. During the three months to May, Wales saw 1,000 fewer unemployed people, putting the total at 107,000. | Wales was the only part of the UK to see unemployment fall. During the three months to May, Wales saw 1,000 fewer unemployed people, putting the total at 107,000. |
| In terms of unemployment rates, the West Midlands has the highest rate at 10.3% while the South East has the lowest at 6.1%. | In terms of unemployment rates, the West Midlands has the highest rate at 10.3% while the South East has the lowest at 6.1%. |
| Manufacturing jobs kept declining, down by 201,000 to a record low of 2.6 million. | Manufacturing jobs kept declining, down by 201,000 to a record low of 2.6 million. |
| Urgent action is needed to address unemployment, explained Rachel Reeves, parliamentary candidate for West Leeds and a co-author of a report published on Wednesday by the Institute for Public Policy Research. | Urgent action is needed to address unemployment, explained Rachel Reeves, parliamentary candidate for West Leeds and a co-author of a report published on Wednesday by the Institute for Public Policy Research. |
| "If we are to get Britain back to work, there will have to be large increases in the jobs available in hi-tech manufacturing and private service sectors such as the creative industries." | "If we are to get Britain back to work, there will have to be large increases in the jobs available in hi-tech manufacturing and private service sectors such as the creative industries." |
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