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UK unemployment sees slight fall UK unemployment sees slight fall
(10 minutes later)
The number of people unemployed in the UK has fallen slightly, figures show.The number of people unemployed in the UK has fallen slightly, figures show.
Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to December, down 3,000 on the figure for the previous three months.Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to December, down 3,000 on the figure for the previous three months.
The rate of unemployment was unchanged at 7.8%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.The rate of unemployment was unchanged at 7.8%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 23,500 to 1.64 million in January, the largest increase since July last year.However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 23,500 to 1.64 million in January, the largest increase since July last year.
'Tough times'
Analysts had expected the number of claimants to fall by about 10,000.Analysts had expected the number of claimants to fall by about 10,000.
This is the second consecutive month the wider measure of unemployment has fallen. This is the second consecutive month that the wider measure of unemployment has fallen.
However the public sector, which has largely propped up the employment figures, is expected to suffer big cuts as the government begins the process of reducing the £178bn budget deficit after the election. ANALYSIS By Stephanie Flanders, BBC Economics Editor
The rise in the claimant count in January is disappointing but not a shock - the big surprise was the previous two months of declines, while the economy was still technically in recession.
With the recovery still so uncertain, the best bet is for further rises in the jobless total in the next few months. But on the basis of these figures, we can still expect unemployment to peak earlier - and somewhat lower - than many would have expected a year ago.
Once again, rising part-time employment over the last three months of 2009 has partly offset a 37,000 fall in the number employed full-time, but we can draw some comfort from the fact that this decline in full-time employment is the smallest since the recession began.
The public sector is expected to suffer big cuts later this year as whoever forms the next government will need to begin the process of reducing the £178bn budget deficit.
This could spark a second round of rising unemployment.This could spark a second round of rising unemployment.
Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper said: "We know things are going to be tough for a while and we expect further increases in unemployment before the summer.
"That's why it's so important to increase help for people now, not cut it back."
She added that unemployment had been much lower than expected last year, partly because employees had been prepared to take pay cuts to stay in work.
The ONS figures showed that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work fell over the three-month period between October and December, down to 923,000 from 936,000 in the previous three months.
Temporary workersTemporary workers
The ONS figures showed that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work fell over the three-month period between October and December, down from 936,000 to 923,000 in the previous three months. Meanwhile, the number of workers in temporary jobs climbed to 1.434 million, up from 1.427 million in the previous three months.
Meanwhile, the number of workers in temporary jobs climbed to 1.434 million, from 1.427 million in the previous three months. The report also said 34.6% of people working on a temporary basis had said they had failed to find permanent work. This figure was up from 32.8%.
And the report said 34.6% of people working on a temporary basis had said they had failed to find permanent work. This figure was up from 32.8%. The number of men who said they had been forced to take temporary work rose by 9.2% from the previous quarter.
The percentage of people neither employed nor looking for work - who are not counted as unemployed by the ONS - rose to 21.3% of the population. The percentage of people neither employed nor looking for work, and who are not counted as unemployed by the ONS, rose to 21.3%.
This group includes students, the long-term sick or disabled, the temporarily sick or injured and people who have retired early or are looking after their family and home. This group includes students, long-term sick or disabled people, the temporarily sick or injured, and people who have retired early or are looking after their family and home.
The ONS data indicated that wage growth remained subdued - rising by an average of 0.8% in the three months to December compared with a year ago.
What's your experience of unemployment? Are you currently working fewer hours or days than you'd like? Send us your comments using the form below. Excluding bonuses, average weekly earnings rose by 1.2% for a third month running. This rate is the lowest since the data began being collected in 2001.
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