17.08.11
UK unemployment increases
Unemployment in the UK has risen to 2.49 million in the last three months, the latest figures show. The jobless rate has risen to 7.9%, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The claimant count for Jobseeker’s Allowance has also risen for three months in a row, reaching 1.56 million in July. Youth unemployment is now at 20.2%, with 949,000 16-24 year olds without work, a rise of 15,000.
More people are now working part-time, increasing this statistic to 1.26 million, as they are unable to find full-time jobs.
Women have been disproportionately hit by the rise in unemployment, as 21,000 of the total increase are female. The number of women out of work is now 1.05 million, the highest since the spring of 1988.
Daniel Callaghan, a director at global recruitment group MBA, said: "The UK jobs market has been in dire straits over the last few weeks. Banking sector recruitment has been frozen and confidence is low in the business market. There is a distinct reluctance among many firms to take on skilled, full-time employees."
John Salt, director at job site Totaljobs, told the Telegraph: “Following the recent decline in output in the UK manufacturing industry, the rise in unemployment, unfortunately, does not come as a major surprise. This is worrying for young people considering there is another wave of graduates and school leavers entering the jobs market at this time of year."
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