Jobless up but total in work rises to record

Nov 15 2007 by Peter McCusker, The Journal

UNEMPLOYMENT has increased even though a record number of people are in work, according to new figures.

The jobless total jumped by 6,000 in the three months to September to 1.67 million, although the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.4%.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance fell by 9,900 in October to 824,800, the 13th consecutive monthly cut.

The number of people in work increased by 69,000 over the latest quarter to reach 29.2 million, the highest figure since records began in 1971.

There was a huge increase in the number of women in full-time employment, up 59,000 over the quarter, compared to a fall of 9,000 in men.

The Office for National Statistics said the UK’s increasing population had caused the twin rise in unemployment and employment in today’s figures.

In the North-East the unemployment rate fell by 1,000 to 79,000, a rate of 6.4%.

Average earnings increased by 4.1% in the year to September, up by 0.4% compared with the previous month.

Wage growth in private firms was 4.3%, compared with 3% in the public sector.

There were 667,000 job vacancies in the economy in the three months to October, up by 10,800 from the previous quarter and 67,100 compared to a year ago.