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UK jobless total falls to 2.46m | UK jobless total falls to 2.46m |
(30 minutes later) | |
The number of people unemployed in the UK has fallen unexpectedly for the first time in 18 months. | |
Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to November, down 7,000 on the figure for the previous three months. | Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to November, down 7,000 on the figure for the previous three months. |
It brings to an end the rise in joblessness that began in the summer of 2008 before the UK fell into recession. | |
The rate of unemployment now stands at 7.8%, down from the 7.9% reported last month. | |
Meanwhile, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell to 1.61 million in December, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) said. | |
That is a fall of 15,200 over the month - significantly greater than the 2,500 anticipated by analysts. | |
The number of 16-24-year-olds out of work also fell over the three-month period between September and November, down from 943,000 to 927,000. | The number of 16-24-year-olds out of work also fell over the three-month period between September and November, down from 943,000 to 927,000. |
But the fall in unemployment was fuelled partly by an increase in people taking part-time work. | |
MAPPING JOBLESSNESS Unemployment in your area | MAPPING JOBLESSNESS Unemployment in your area |
The number of people in part-time employment increased by 99,000 over the quarter to reach a record high of 7.71 million. | The number of people in part-time employment increased by 99,000 over the quarter to reach a record high of 7.71 million. |
More than a million of these were working part-time because they could not find a full-time job - the highest figure since records began in 1992, according to the ONS. | More than a million of these were working part-time because they could not find a full-time job - the highest figure since records began in 1992, according to the ONS. |
The number of people neither employed nor looking for work - not included in unemployment figures - was up to 21.2% of the population. That was the highest rate since August 2007. | The number of people neither employed nor looking for work - not included in unemployment figures - was up to 21.2% of the population. That was the highest rate since August 2007. |
'Still tough' | 'Still tough' |
The figures, which came as a surprise to many analysts, were welcomed by Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper. | The figures, which came as a surprise to many analysts, were welcomed by Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper. |
"The jobs market is still tough for a lot of people, but the drop in unemployment and youth unemployment is very welcome," she said. | "The jobs market is still tough for a lot of people, but the drop in unemployment and youth unemployment is very welcome," she said. |
"It means 450,000 fewer people are out of work than everyone expected last spring." | "It means 450,000 fewer people are out of work than everyone expected last spring." |
Analysts were more mixed in their reactions to the figures however. | Analysts were more mixed in their reactions to the figures however. |
"The jobless figures show a rather steeper-than-expected decline in the claimant count but it does seem that many people are moving out of the labour market," commented Stephen Lewis, an economist at Monument Securities. | "The jobless figures show a rather steeper-than-expected decline in the claimant count but it does seem that many people are moving out of the labour market," commented Stephen Lewis, an economist at Monument Securities. |
He added that a recovery in the labour market would still depend on the recovery in the wider economy, encouraging companies to hire more staff. | He added that a recovery in the labour market would still depend on the recovery in the wider economy, encouraging companies to hire more staff. |
There were some signs of increased demand for workers in the figures. The number of vacancies being advertised rose by 16,000 compared with the previous three-month period, though it is still down significantly on a year ago. | There were some signs of increased demand for workers in the figures. The number of vacancies being advertised rose by 16,000 compared with the previous three-month period, though it is still down significantly on a year ago. |
George Buckley, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, called the figures "encouraging". | George Buckley, chief UK economist at Deutsche Bank, called the figures "encouraging". |
"In previous recessions it took years for unemployment to stop rising, but that hasn't happened this time," he said. | "In previous recessions it took years for unemployment to stop rising, but that hasn't happened this time," he said. |
Mr Buckley added that workers' willingness to accept low pay and shorter hours in return for keeping their jobs was helping limit unemployment. | Mr Buckley added that workers' willingness to accept low pay and shorter hours in return for keeping their jobs was helping limit unemployment. |
Are you unemployed? Have you taken part-time work to get back into the job market? Have you just found a job? Send us your views and comments using the form below. | Are you unemployed? Have you taken part-time work to get back into the job market? Have you just found a job? Send us your views and comments using the form below. |
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