Jobless total worst for three years

Jobless total worst for three years
18 January 2006

Unemployment has increased by more than 100,000 to reach the highest level in three years, a gloomy set of official jobless figures showed.

The number of people looking for work jumped by 111,000 in the three months to November to 1.53 million, the biggest total since the end of 2002.



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The claimant count, which includes people receiving Jobseeker's Allowance, rose by 7,200 in December to 909,100, the 11th consecutive monthly increase.

The figure is now 95,000 more than a year ago and is at a two-year high, according to data from the Office for National Statistics.

The unemployment rate is now 5%, an increase of 0.4% compared to last summer, while the 1.53 million total, which includes people out of work but not receiving benefit, is the highest since November 2002.

The number of people in work fell by 22,000 in the latest quarter to 28.76 million.

There was also an increase in the number of people classed as economically inactive, including those looking after a relative, students or people who have given up looking for a job.

The figure rose by 25,000 on the quarter to 7.94 million, the highest total since records began in 1971.

Manufacturing jobs continued to be lost, down by 109,000 in the three months to November to a record low of 3.1 million.

Vacancies also fell at the end of last year, down by 12,700 from the autumn.

ED: Surely the dodgy story of a plot to kidnap Blair's son was not released on the same day as higher unemployment figures on purpose