There were 2.51 million people out of work in the UK between February and April this year; a fall of 5,000 from the previous quarter.
According to the latest report from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), unemployment is down and the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants dropped 8,600 in May to 1.51 million.
Further findings show that the amount of benefit claimants is at now at its lowest level in two years and that average earnings are 1.3% up from the same period in 2012. However, the unemployment rate remains unchanged with 7.8% of the active population out of work.
Key results include:
- In April alone, average earnings rose by 3.3% versus April last year; mainly due to company bonuses and the rate of income tax falling to 45%.
- Excluding bonuses, earnings only increased 0.9% from a year earlier.
- Despite the hike in earnings, the figure is still well below the rate of inflation and consumer prices are 2.4% higher than 2012.
- More than a million people aged over 65-years-old are in employment; the highest since records began in 1971. It equates to around 615,000 elderly men and 388,000 women.
- Unemployment rates differ throughout the UK. The number of people out of work in Scotland has fallen by 6,000 and in Northern Ireland unemployment is down by 5,000. This is in stark contrast to England which is up by 6,000 and in Wales there has been no change.
What does all this data mean? British citizens are facing a huge amount of pressure in such difficult economic times. Long-term unemployment has increased and the number of people out of work for over a year has risen by 11,000 to almost 898,000.
Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, said: “Whilst any drop in unemployment is welcome, the overall picture is still gloomy.
“There are far too many people out of work, women and long-term unemployed are particularly badly affected, and public sector jobs are being slashed.”
Ed Miliband, Labour Leader, said that too many people are struggling. He said: “Day in, day out, what people see are prices rising, wages falling while the Prime Minister tells them they’re better off. He claims the economy is healing. But for ordinary families life is getting harder.”
