Unemployment figures released for April to June quarter

The number of people in the UK of working age (16 - 64) unemployed in the three months to June 2010 fell by 49,000 (0.2%) to 2.457 million - an unemployment rate of 7.8% - according to official figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

Employment increased by 184,000 (0.3%) to 29,023 million. This was the largest quarterly increase since 1989 and was largely driven by another significant (115,000) increase in the number of people in part-time employment.

Job vacancies for the three months to July increased by 10,000 to 481,000.

In summary:

Unemployment

•        The number of people unemployed for up to 12 months fell by 82,000 to 1.66 million

•        However, the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months increased by 38,000 to 796,000 - the highest figure since the three months to March 1997.

In Employment

•        The number of full-time workers In Employment fell again - by 68,000 to 21.8 million.

•        The number of part-time workers In Employment increased again - up by 115,000 to 7.84 million, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992

•        Employment is up by 104,000 on the year, but 507,000 lower than 2 years previously.

Vacancies

•        Increased by 10,000 over the May to July quarter to 486,000.

Jobseeker's Allowance Claimants

•        Fell by 20,800 (0.1%) to 1.46 million

Earnings Annual Growth Rate for Regular Pay (excl bonuses)

•        Fell to 1.6% for the three months to June 2010 (compared to April to June 2009). Down from 1.8% for the three months to May

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