Number of jobless approaches 2.5m

The number of people out of work has risen again. Unemployment under the Labour Force Survey count increased by 210,000 to 2.47 million in the three months to July, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The unemployment rate rose to 7.9% from 7.2% for the previous three-month period. The number was last higher in three-months to April 1995 and the rate last higher in October 1996.

The number of unemployed men rose by 150,000 to 1.53 million and the unemployment rate was up to 9.0%. While women saw a rise of 60,000 to 945,000 and a rate of 6.6%.

Unemployment among young workers, those aged 18 to 24, rose by 36,000 to 731,000. Their unemployment rate was up to 17.5%, but the rate for the same age group who had been unemployed for more than a year was even higher at 21.1%.

“More workers, particularly young workers, are paying a devastating price for the bankers’ recession and there is some way to go before unemployment stops rising,” said Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB general union.

Unemployment under the claimant count, which only includes those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance, has risen every month since February 2008. The latest increase was 24,400 taking the August total to 1.61 million. It is now at its highest level since Labour came to power in May 1997.