Unemployment FALLS for second month in a row

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

Unemployment fell by 3,000 to 2.46 million, official figures showed today.

Despite a minor blip up in the new claimant count, total unemployment has now fallen for the second month in a row.
I think we can all agree this is good news.:beer:

Charterhouse

Serious question, how can unemployment fall when the claimant count rose by the highest number since 1997? I guess because people exited the labour force? Where did they go? If they went onto incapacity benefit it certainly isn't good news is it?

HappyMJ

They are probably now doing 16 hours per week at minimum wage and claiming £51 p/w Working Tax Credits and still claiming full Housing and Council Tax benefits but....they are now employed.

Really2

Charterhouse wrote: »

Serious question, how can unemployment fall when the claimant count rose by the highest number since 1997?

Well July 2009, but close.

Graham_Devon

And now for some perspective.

1.

Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to December, down 3,000 on the figure for the previous three months.

2.

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.
Analysts had expected the number of claimants to fall by about 10,000.

3.

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.

4.

Meanwhile, the number of workers in temporary jobs climbed to 1.434 million, from 1.427 million in the previous three months.
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%.

Make of it what you will.

Really2

Graham_Devon wrote: »

And now for some perspective.


4.

Meanwhile, the number of workers in temporary jobs climbed to 1.434 million, from 1.427 million in the previous three months.
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%.

Make of it what you will.

What a grand way to make an increase of 7000 over 3 months look bigger than it actually.
Are they spinning Graham?

Also is your use of bold not spin graham.

Charterhouse

Really2 wrote: »

Well July 2009, but close.

Claims for jobless benefits rose by 23,500 from the previous month to 1.64 million, the highest since April 1997, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 27 economists was for a drop of 10,000.

Really2

Charterhouse wrote: »

Claims for jobless benefits rose by 23,500 from the previous month to 1.64 million, the highest since April 1997, the Office for National Statistics said today in London. The median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey of 27 economists was for a drop of 10,000.

You muddled it earlier

Charterhouse wrote: »

when the claimant count rose by the highest number since 1997

So it was not the biggest rise since 1997, it was to the highest number of claimants in total since 1997.

Graham_Devon

Really2 wrote: »

What a grand way to make an increase of 7000 over 3 months look bigger than it actually.
Are they spinning Graham?

Also is your use of bold not spin graham.

You are more than welcome to call my bold part spin Really.

It's just a shame for you I also bolded the first part of point 1

Charterhouse

OK, sorry, I mis-wrote what I meant. Bloomberg actually misreported it as well initially which is what confused me.

Really2

Charterhouse wrote: »

OK, sorry, I mis-wrote what I meant. Bloomberg actually misreported it as well initially which is what confused me.

No probs, I just thought it was wrong as we had some big increases in 08/09.