Unemployment continues to fall

Under the Labour Force Survey count, unemployment continued to fall — by 102,000 to 1.86 million in the three months ending January compared with the previous three-months’ total of 1.96 million.

The unemployment rate fell to 5.7% from 6.0%.

Around two-thirds of the fall was in the number of unemployed men. Their total was down by 67,000 to 1.02 million and their unemployment rate was down to 5.9% from 6.2%.

The number of unemployed women fell by 34,000 to 831,000 and their unemployment rate was down to 5.4% from 5.7%.

However, although down slightly, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high. The number of unemployed 16- to 24-year-olds was 743,000 — down by 11,000 on the previous three-month period and their unemployment rate was 16.2%.

Under the claimant count, unemployment was down by 31,000 to 791,200 in February — its lowest level since 2008. This count only includes those people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The joblessness rate was down to 2.4% from 2.5%.

Male claimant numbers fell by 20,900 to 502,400 and their joblessness rate was down to 2.8% from 2.9%. Women claimants’ numbers fell by 10,100 to 288,800 and their joblessness rate was down to 1.8% from 1.9%.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/march-2015/index.html