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| Growth in UK unemployment slows | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The latest official UK unemployment figure has risen once again, but the rate of increase has narrowed. | The latest official UK unemployment figure has risen once again, but the rate of increase has narrowed. |
| Unemployment rose 88,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to August, while the jobless rate stayed at 7.9%. | Unemployment rose 88,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to August, while the jobless rate stayed at 7.9%. |
| The number of people claiming unemployment benefit grew in September by 20,800 to 1.63 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | |
| While the number of people claiming the benefit is now the highest since 1997, the rise was the least since May 2008. | |
| The 88,000 increase in the number of people unemployed in the three months to August, compares with the 210,000 gain recorded for the three months to July. | The 88,000 increase in the number of people unemployed in the three months to August, compares with the 210,000 gain recorded for the three months to July. |
| 'Fragile recovery' | 'Fragile recovery' |
| Despite fears of another rise in youth unemployment, this actually fell in the three months to August, declining to 946,000 from 947,000 in the three months to July. | Despite fears of another rise in youth unemployment, this actually fell in the three months to August, declining to 946,000 from 947,000 in the three months to July. |
| "Although unemployment isn't as high today as many feared it would be at the time of the Budget, it remains a serious problem, which is why we must keep increasing support and advice to get people back into jobs," said Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper. | "Although unemployment isn't as high today as many feared it would be at the time of the Budget, it remains a serious problem, which is why we must keep increasing support and advice to get people back into jobs," said Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper. |
| Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union said the latest figures showed "some tentative signs of a very fragile recovery in the economy". | Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union said the latest figures showed "some tentative signs of a very fragile recovery in the economy". |
| Investec chief economist Philip Shaw agreed that the numbers suggested "the pace of deterioration in the jobs market is easing quite sharply". | Investec chief economist Philip Shaw agreed that the numbers suggested "the pace of deterioration in the jobs market is easing quite sharply". |
| The latest unemployment data comes a week before the ONS releases its first estimate for how the UK economy performed between July and September. | |
| Despite some signs of economic improvement, analysts remain unsure as to whether the economy will post growth and therefore exit recession. | |
| If the economy contracts again, it will be the first time that the UK has endured six successive quarters without economic expansion. |