UK unemployment increases to 2.5 million

The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 43,000 to 2.5 million during the three months to February, official figures have shown, resulting in the jobless total being at it's highest since 1994.

The rate of unemployment now stands at 8% - the highest since 1996 - the Office for National Statistics said.  However, the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in March by 32,900 to 1.54 million - a much sharper fall than expected.

The ONS figures showed youth unemployment rising, with 929,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work in the December to February period - a rise of 4,000 on the previous three months. Unemployment among the over-50s rose by 7,000 to 396,000.

There was also a rise in the number of people classed as economically inactive - those out of work and not seeking work.  They rose by 110,000 to a record total of 8.16 million, equivalent to 21.5% of the population.  The majority of that rise was due to an increase in the number of students, as young people decided to enter education instead of seek jobs.

Commenting on the figures, the Work and Pension Secretary Yvette Cooper, said the figures were in line with the government's expectations.

"What this shows is that we are not out of the woods yet," she told the BBC.

"That's why it is so important that we keep increasing the support for the unemployed, but also that we sustain the overall support for the economy."

Posted at 07:17PM Apr 21, 2010 by Kelly Board in Sport Finance  |  Comments[0]