Unemployment falls once more

Unemployment fell for the second quarter in a row. It fell by 36,000 to 2.46 million in the first quarter of the year, official figures show. The unemployment rate also fell to 7.7% from 7.9%, according to Labour Force Survey figures.

This was mainly due to a fall in male unemployment which was down by 31,000 to 1.43 million. Their unemployment rate was down to 8.4% from 8.5%.

For women, the fall was only 5,000 — down to 1.03 million — but that was enough to cut their unemployment rate from 7.1% to 7.0%.

There was a little relief on youth unemployment, which fell by 30,000 to 935,000, but their unemployment rate is still way too high at 20%.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said the figures were good news. But he warned that with cuts just starting to take effect, “the good news may not last for much longer”.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance — the claimant count — rose by 12,400 to 1.47 million and their unemployment rate was up 4.6% from 4.5%.

The number of women claimants rose for the 10th consecutive month — this time by 9,300 to 474,400 — an unemployment rate of 3.2%. A 3,100 rise in the number of male claimants to 994,200 was small enough to keep their unemployment rate at 5.7%.