Unemployment posts another fall


The number of unemployed people in the UK fell by 47,000 to 1.36 million in the three-month period ending August from the 1.41 million for the previous three-month period. 


The fall in numbers was enough to cut the unemployment rate from 4.2% to 4.0% of the working population. The decrease was fairly evenly split between the sexes. The number of unemployed men fell by 23,000 to 733,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 4.1% from 4.2%. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed women was down by 24,000 to 630,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 4.0% from 4.1%.


Regional figures show that eight of the 12 regions saw unemployed numbers down in the three months ending August. London and the East led the way with falls of 18,000 and 17,000 respectively. However, numbers rose in four regions, with the South East posting a 15,000 rise.


The other main unemployment measure is the claimant count, which only includes those people receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on the means-tested Universal Credit. In September, unemployment under this count increased by 18,500 to 942,900 from the revised figure for August of 924,300. 


The increase in numbers was not enough to affect the joblessness rate which remained at 2.6%.

https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/october2018