Jobless at five-and-a-half-year low

Unemployment was down to a five-and-a-half-year low and closer to the two million mark, the latest official figures show.

Under the Labour Force Survey count, unemployment was down by 132,000 to 2.08 million in the second quarter of 2014 compared with the previous quarter’s total of 2.21 million.

The unemployment rate fell from 6.8% to 6.4% — the lowest rate for nearly six years. It was last at that rate in November 2008.

The number of unemployed men fell by 85,000 to 1.15 million and their unemployment rate was down to 6.6% from 7.0%.

Meanwhile, the number of unemployed women fell by 46,000 to 926,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 6.1% from 6.4%.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Falling unemployment is always welcome — particularly for young people who are finally starting to find work — but unless the quality of job creation increases Britain’s living standards crisis will continue and people will be locked out of the benefits of recovery.”

Youth unemployment fell by 101,000 in the second quarter to stand at 766,000 among 16- to 24-year olds.

Under the claimant count, which only includes those people on Jobseeker’s Allowance, numbers fell by 33,600 to 1.01 million in July. The joblessness rate edged down to 3.0% from 3.1%.

www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_372372.pdf