Unemployment lowest in decades


Unemployment in the UK is at its lowest level for almost 45 years, official figures show.


The number of unemployed people fell below the 1.3 million mark for the first time since the period ending November 1975, when it reached 1,286,000. In the three months to May 2019, a 51,000 decrease in numbers cut the total to 1,292,000 from the 1,343,000 total for the period ending February.


The unemployment rate was also cut to 3.8% from 3.9%. The number of unemployed men fell by 19,000 to 712,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 4.0% from 4.1%. Women accounted for most of the overall fall. Their numbers fell by 31,000 to 580,000 and their rate was down to 3.6% from 3.8%.


The other main official unemployment measure — the claimant count — saw an increase. This measure only includes claimants receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on Universal Credit. 


In June 2019, unemployment under this count totalled 1.14 million, a 38,000 increase on the May revised total of 1.1 million. The increase pushed the joblessness rate up to 3.2% from 3.1%.


Male claimant numbers increased by 21,400 to 671,700 and the joblessness rate edged up to 3.5% from 3.4% in May. Female claimant numbers increased by 16,600 to 470,400 and their joblessness rate inched up to 2.8% from 2.7%.

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