Long-term jobless numbers up

The number of unemployed people that have been jobless for more than a year rose by 15,000 to stand at 915,000, according to the latest official figures.

That is over 100,000 more than the 809,000 total of two years ago. And over one in three unemployed people have now been jobless for more than a year.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said long-term unemployment is “particularly damaging as it can permanently scar someone’s career prospects“.

Overall, unemployment under the Labour Force Survey count remains stubbornly above 2.5 million.

There was a 57,000 fall in jobless numbers to 2.51 million in the three-month period ending May. The unemployment rate dipped to 7.8% from 7.9%

The 41,000 fall in the number of unemployed women was the main contributor to the fall. Their total was 1.08 million and their unemployment rate was down to 7.2% from 7.5%.

The men’s total was 1.43 million — a 16,000 fall — but their unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.3%.

The claimant count — the number of people on Jobseeker’s Allowance and classified as unemployed — was also down.

In June, the overall count was 1.48 million — a fall of 21,200 — and the jobless rate was down to 4.4% from 4.5% in May.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_315111.pdf