Unemployment Figures Released for the March to May 2010 quarter

The number of people unemployed in the UK fell by 34,000 to 2.47m in the three months to May, according to official figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Meanwhile, those claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell in June by 20,800 to 1.46m.

This took the jobless rate to 7.8%, the lowest since January and below forecasts of about 7.9%.

The number of people in work rose by 160,000 in the three months to May, the biggest rise since August 2006.

However, the increase was due to a record 148,000 rise in the number of part-time workers, while full-time workers increased by just 12,000.

The ONS said the percentage of workers in part-time jobs was 27%, its highest since records began in 1992.

These figures will raise hopes that the economic recovery is gaining momentum.

Summary

Unemployment FELL by 34,000 (-0.1%) to 2.468 million - an unemployment rate of 7.8%.

• The number of people unemployed for up to 6 months FELL by 54,000 to 1.16 million
• However, the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months INCREASED by 61,000 to 787,000 - the highest figure since the three months to March 1997.

The number of people of working age In Employment INCREASED by 160,000 (0.3%) to 28.984 million - 72.3% of the working population.

• The number of full-time workers In Employment FELL again - down by 22,000 to 18.2 million.
• The number of part-time workers In Employment INCREASED again - up by 117,000 to 6.63 million.

The number of Vacancies for the three months to June 2010 INCREASED by 10,000 to 486,000. The wholesaling, retailing and motor vehicle repair sector showed the largest quarterly increase - up by 11,000 to 95,000.

The number of Jobseeker's Allowance Claimants in June 2010 FELL by 20,800 (0.1%) to 1.46 million.

The Earnings Annual Growth Rate for Regular Pay (excl bonuses) INCREASED by 1.8% (for the three months to May 2010 - compared to March to May 2009).

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