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Number of unemployed increases
Unemployment has risen for the first time in over two years. Under the Labour Force Survey count, it increased by 15,000 to 1.85 million in the three months to May, compared with the previous three-month period ending February 2015.
It was the first quarterly increase since January to March 2013, the Office for National Statistics said.
The unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.6% on the previous three-month period.
The numbers of jobless women increased by 14,000 to 839,000 and their unemployment rate was up to 5.5% from 5.4%.
The increase in unemployed men was just 2,000 to 1.01 million but their unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.8%.
There was also an increase in the claimant count, which now includes both those claiming Universal Credit and Jobseeker’s Allowance. It was the first rise in this count since October 2012. The claimant count totalled 804,200 in June — an increase of 7,000 on May. However, the joblessness rate was unchanged at 2.3%.
For June 2015, there were 517,300 men claiming unemployment-related benefits, a 6,500 increase on May and 286,900 women — a 600 increase on the previous month.
Their respective joblessness rates were unchanged at 2.8% for men and 1.8% for women.