Unemployment rises again to 2.53 million
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UK unemployment increased by 27,000 in the three months to the end of January to 2.53 million, the highest figure since 1994, show the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.
The unemployment rate was 8%, with the inactivity rate at 23.3% and there were 9.33 million inactive people aged from 16 to 64.
Total pay, including bonuses rose by 2.3% on a year earlier, with regular pay, excluding bonuses rising by 2.2.% on a year earlier.
The unemployment rate for those aged from 16 to 24 increased by 0.8% on the quarter to reach 20.6%, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.
While the number of unemployed 16 to 24 year olds increased by 30,000 on the quarter to reach 974,000, also the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.
The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 10,200 between January and February 2011 to reach 1.45 million and the number of male claimants has fallen for thirteen consecutive months but the number of female claimants has increased for eight consecutive months.
The total number of male claimants fell by 17,500 on the month to reach 991,300 in February 2011 but the number of female claimants increased by 7,300 to reach 457,300, the highest figure since October 1996.
The inactivity rate for those aged from 16 to 64 for the three months to January 2011 was 23.3%, up 0.1 on the quarter.
The number of economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64 increased by 43,000 over the quarter to reach 9.33 million.
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