UK unemployment hits 17-year high

UK unemployment hits 17-year high

The number of unemployed people in Britain hit 2.7 million today, the highest it has been since 1995. This figure includes the increase of 48,000 in the last quarter of 2011.

Other bad news includes statistics indicating that public sector pay rises are the lowest ever recorded, and that London is the second worst-off area in the country, with one in ten people unemployed.

According to official figures, this is the eleventh consecutive month in which jobseeker claims have increased. The total number of claimants has now reached a whopping 1.6 million, with a further 1.6 million working part-time.

Experts are warning that further unemployment and staff cuts should be expected, as businesses continue to lose confidence in the British economy.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), a leading think tank, says that women and young workers have been the worst hit in the past year, and, indeed, women make up two thirds of the unemployment rise in the last quarter. The statistics, which show 33,000 more women out of work between October and December, are double the male equivalent of 16,000. Similarly, the number of 16-24 year olds out of work rose by 73,000 in the same period, taking the total for their age group to 1.04 million.

Eleanor Hooper

More in Uncategorised

Discover Mijas Costa: Sun, adventure and unmatched comfort

The editorial unit

Spring stirrings: Why the season of bloom turns people a bit randy

The editorial unit

Gaming in movies: Ten titles that got it right

The editorial unit

Interactive entertainment in the UK: AI storytelling and gamified experience

The editorial unit

La Cocina

Selina Sondermann

Key trends in the auto finance market for 2025

The editorial unit

Ergonomic benefits of using portable triple monitors for laptops

The editorial unit

Interpreting “candlestick patterns” in bitcoin price charts

The editorial unit

The hidden costs of KYC non-compliance: Insights from Skylory Corp

The editorial unit