UK unemployment rises again

14/10/2009

Better-than-expected unemployment figures were released by the government today.

The overall jobless total increased by 88,000 over the three months to August - a smaller increase than had previously been forecasted by analysts.

Unemployment therefore stood at 2.47 million, or 7.9 per cent of the working population.

This is the highest level measured in the official survey for 14 years.

Separate figures showed that 20,800 more people claimed unemployment benefit in September, compared to August.

Commenting on the news, work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper said: "Although unemployment isn't as high today as many feared it would be at the time of the Budget, it remains a serious problem, which is why we must keep increasing support and advice to get people back into jobs."

The recession, which has put many companies' balance sheets under pressure, is the primary cause of rising unemployment.

Economists expect the jobless total to continue to rise until well into 2010 - possibly to over three million people at its peak.

Tags; Young Family Finances, Retirement Money Problems, Job loss, Recent Graduate Debt,

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