Unemployment nudges upwards


Unemployment rebounded above the 1.3 million mark, latest official figures show. Unemployment in the UK in the three-month period June to August 2019 increased by 22,000 to 1.31 million from 1.29 million in the previous three-month period.


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


The increase was mainly down to a rise in the number of unemployed men. Their numbers increased by 15,000 to 727,000, but their rate was unchanged at 4.0%. The number of unemployed women increased by 6,000 to 586,000 and their unemployment rate edged up 3.7% from 3.6%.


The other main official unemployment measure is the claimant count. This only includes claimants receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on the means-tested Universal Credit.


In September 2019, unemployment under this count was 1.19 million — a 21,100 increase on the previous month.


The increase in numbers did not affect the joblessness rate which remained at 3.3%.


Male claimants increased by 10,800 to 699,900. Their joblessness rate edged up to 3.7% from 3.6% in August. 


Female claimants increased by 10,300 to 492,700 and their joblessness rate increased to 2.9% from 2.8%.

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