Joblessness down on both counts

Unemployment is down on both counts but the good news is not expected to last into 2013.

Under the Labour Force Survey count, unemployment fell by 82,000 to 2.51 million in the three-month period ending October.

The unemployment rate also edged down to 7.8% from 8.1%. The number of unemployed men fell by 61,000 to 1.43 million and their unemployment rate is down to 8.3% from 8.8%. The fall was less for women, with 21,000 fewer unemployed women.

There were 1.08 million out of a job and their unemployment rate was down to 7.3% from 7.4%.

However, the Office for Budget Responsibility has produced forecasts to accompany last year’s Autumn Statement, which signal more gloom ahead. It expects the unemployment rate to increase over the coming year, peaking at 8.3% at the end of 2013, before recovering gradually from 2014.

According to the Office for National Statistics, unemployment on the other main jobless measure — the claimant count — fell by 3,000 to 1.58 million.

This measure only includes those people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The number of male claimants fell to 1.03 million, but the number of jobless women was up to almost 544,000. Their unemployment rates were unchanged at 5.9% and 3.6% respectively.