Unemployment rate unchanged

Unemployment edged down to the 2.5 million mark at the end of 2012, according to Labour Force Survey figures.

The unemployment count fell by 14,000 in the final quarter of 2012 on the previous quarter to end the year at just over 2.5 million.

However, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8%.

The fall was down to a 16,000 cut in the number of jobless men to 1.41 million. This fall cut their unemployment rate to 8.1% from 8.2%.

Unemployment for women was up by 2,000 to 1.09 million but their unemployment rate was down to 7.3% from 7.4%.

There was no good news on youth unemployment — 16- to 24-year-olds — whose numbers rose by 11,000 to 973,000 at the end of 2012.

The latest official figures show that the number of temporary workers increased by 43,000 to 1.66 million in the final quarter of 2012. The number of temporary workers who were unable to find a permanent job was also up — by 6,000 to 661,000.

Unemployment under the claimant count fell by 12,500 to 1.55 million in January. This measure only includes those people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Male claimant numbers fell by 9,800 to 1.01 million and their unemployment rate dipped to 5.7% from 5.8%.

But the fall of 2,700 in the number of jobless women to 534,000 was not enough to affect their unemployment rate which remained at 3.5%.