Unemployment edges higher


Even before the coronavirus pandemic has had an effect, unemployment in the UK has risen.


In the three-month period ending January, the number of unemployed people increased by 63,000 to 1.34 million compared with the August-October period total of 1.28 million.


The increase in numbers was enough to push the unemployment rate up to 3.9% from 3.8%.


The increase was roughly split between the sexes. 


The number of unemployed men rose by 33,000 to 748,000. Their unemployment rate increased to 4.1% from 4.0%. The number of unemployed women went up by 29,000 to 595,000 and their rate increased to 3.7% from 3.5%.


The unemployment rate was above the UK average of 3.9% in five of the UK’s 12 regions/countries. The North East has the highest rate at 6.2%, followed by 4.6% in Yorkshire and the Humber.


There was an increase in the other main official unemployment measure — the claimant count — which only includes claimants receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on the means-tested Universal Credit.


In February of this year, unemployment under this count increased by 17,300 to 1.25 million. 


The increase in numbers was enough to edge the joblessness rate up to 3.5% from 3.4%.