Unemployment rises to 2.44 million
Unemployment rises to 2.44 million
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Wednesday, 12, Aug 2009 05:04
In a highly expected rise, unemployment is up 220,000, bringing the total to 2.44 million out of work.
However, the figures weren't as bad as first thought, with many predicting the number as high as 2.5 million.
There was also a significant increase in the number of people claiming job seekers allowance, at 1.5 million.
Concerns were raised the number of young people out of work was rising, which the official figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed.
The statistics released today declare: "Unemployment for 18 to 24 year olds was 722,000 in the three months to June 2009, up 46,000 from the three months to March 2009."
The jobless rate increased by 281,000 to 2.38 million in the three months to May - the highest jump since 1995.
The ONS figures today showed the unemployment rate was 7.8 per cent in the three months to June, up marginally by 0.7 per cent from the three months to March 2009.
The number of unemployed is now up 750,000 on a year ago, with the number of unemployed men at 1.49 million, and the unemployed women 942,000.
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman, Steve Webb, said: "The widening gap between the number of unemployed people and the number of people claiming benefits shows vulnerable people aren't getting the help they need.
"The government needs to look urgently at the gaps in the safety net to make sure that people who are out of work are getting the support that they need to see them through this difficult period.
"Young people should be getting intensive support as soon as they sign on instead of having to wait a year for a guarantee of a job or training place. With vacancies at a record low, it is vital that we prevent today's school and university leavers from becoming a lost generation of long-term unemployed."