UK jobless total rises by 25000

According to a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) 1.85 million people have been out of job in the April to June period.

The jobless total had also risen in the three months to May, and it is the first time in two years that there have been two consecutive rises, the BBC reported.

The data strengthen the possibility that the labour market is levelling off, said ONS statistician David Freeman in a statement.

Ignoring the fall in employment, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith talked about how the unemployment situation has improved since the financial collapse.

A narrower measure of unemployment showed claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell 4,900 in July and an increase in June was nearly entirely revised away.

ING Bank NV economist James Knightley expects better labor market numbers in coming months as the election effects fade and the underlying strength of the economy continues to push employment and pay higher. I was particularly pleased to see that wages are continuing to rise – meaning that hardworking people will see a real difference in their pay packets’. The unemployment rate is 5.6%.

The signs are encouraging here too, as figures suggest output per hour could be growing at its fastest rate for a number of years. He added pay growth “remains solid”.

“With productivity stagnating, David Cameron and George Osborne must take bolder action to raise jobseekers” skill levels to get more back into work and help build the high-skilled workforce Britain needs. Ministers must urgently deliver more high-quality apprenticeships to give young people the skills they need to get a job and build a future.

Total average earnings up 2.4%, while regular pay rose by 2.8%.

Another increase in unemployment has sparked concern about the jobs market, especially for young people.

UNEMPLOYMENT has dropped in Oxfordshire for the third year running. However, there is progress towards more stable employment conditions.

It was the ninth consecutive quarter of unemployment falling in the region, and has come amid a rise of employment.

“But 16% of young people are still unemployed”. We need the Government to look at ways to encourage people to become self-employed and support those already working in this way.

Others highlighted that the single-month unemployment rate for June fell to 5.5pc, from 5.8pc in May.

While the growth in earnings still remains well above the rate of inflation, the weaker-than-expected pay figure pushed the value of the pound down.