Labour Research March 2001

News

Unemployment tumbles again

Unemployment in the UK has fallen steeply to 1,004,800. Official figures show the number of people out of work and claiming benefit fell by 25,500 in January.

The fall is the largest since July 1999 and the size was unexpected, leaving the total claimant count hovering just above one million. The figures increase the chances of claimant unemployment falling below one million before a general election.