Unemployment goes into reverse


Unemployment went into reverse, latest official figures show, as the number of unemployed people increased by 31,000 to 1.33 million in the three-month period ending June. 


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


Male unemployment accounted for the increase. The number of unemployed men increased by 40,000 to 740,000 and their unemployment rate was pushed up to 4.1% from 3.9%. The number of unemployed women fell by 9,000 to 589,000, cutting their unemployment rate to 3.6% from 3.7%.


The North West and Scotland were hardest hit by increases. 


Numbers rose by 21,000 in the North West, pushing the region’s unemployment rate up to 4.3%. Scotland saw numbers increase by 12,000 to 102,000 and its unemployment rate was up to 3.6%.


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


In July 2019, unemployment under the claimant count totalled 1.16 million, an increase of 28,000 on the revised total for June of 1.14 million, although the joblessnes rate remained at 3.2%. 


https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment