Unemployment continues to fall


Unemployment fell for the second consecutive month. Overall, the number was down by 12,000 to 1.41 million in the three-month period ending May on the previous three-month period. 


However, the fall in numbers was enough to cut the unemployment rate which remained at 4.2% of the working population.


The fall was all down to women as male unemployment increased — the number of unemployed women fell by 18,000 to 654,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 4.1% from 4.2%. Male unemployment increased by 6,000 to 757,000, but their unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%.


Short-term and medium-term unemployment fell in the three months to May 2018 when compared with the previous quarter, according to the Office for National Statistics. However, long-term unemployment increased by 11,000 during the same period.


The other main unemployment measure — the claimant count — posted an increase. In June 2018, unemployment under this count increased by 7,800 to 898,700 from the revised figure for May of 890,900. 


The increase in numbers was not enough to affect the joblessness rate which remained at 2.5%.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment