Joblessness passes 'grim milestone'

Unemployment is on the rise again, according to official figures. Under the Labour Force Survey count, unemployed numbers were up by 35,000 to 2.5 million in the three months ending October on the previous three-month period.

The unemployment rate was up to 7.9% from 7.8%.

Women bore the brunt of the rise. The number of unemployed women rose by 24,000 to 1.04 million and their unemployment rate rose to 7.1% from 7.0%. Male unemployment was up by 11,000 to 1.46 million and their unemployment rate rose to 8.6% from 8.5%.

The numbers of people of working age unemployed for over a year showed a rise of 41,000 to 839,000.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "The number of people out of work has passed the grim milestone of 2.5 million before the government's austerity measures have even started to take effect. The jobs outlook in the coming years looks increasingly bleak.

"Government support for the unemployed may have ended but our jobs crisis certainly hasn't."

The claimant count, which only takes into account those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, was marginally down - by 1,200 - to stand at 1.46 million in November. Nevertheless, the fall was not enough to impact on the unemployment rate which stayed at 4.5%. Male claimant numbers were down, but again the number of women on benefits rose.