Unemployment figure climbs

Under the Labour Force Survey (LFS) count, unemployment was up by 15,000 to 2.52 million in the three-month period ending March compared with the previous period. However, the latest unemployment rate was steady at 7.8%.

Male unemployment took a hit with the number of jobless men up by 18,000 to 1.43 million, and their unemployment rate was up to 8.3% from 8.1%. Unemployment for women was down by 3,000 to 1.09 million; their unemployment rate was steady at 7.3%.

The TUC said the figures were troubling as there were more people out of work today than when the coalition took office three years ago. General secretary Frances O’Grady said the government must tackle the situation “by investing now in new homes, better schools and more roads and rail lines to create demand in the economy and spur on better job creation”.

In April, unemployment on the other main jobless measure — the claimant count — fell by 7,300 on the previous month to 1.52 million. This measure only includes those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance. The unemployment rate was down to 4.5% from 4.6% the previous month.

The number of male and female claimant numbers fell, but their unemployment rates were unchanged at 5.5% and 3.4% respectively.