JOBLESS FIGURES FALL
Source: Recruitment Consultant Magazine
Jobless figures released today by the ONS have shown the first fall in unemployment for 18 months.
The number of unemployed people in the UK during November – the latest figure released – shows 7,000 fewer people than the previous month.
This figure has been slightly skewed due to the rise in those taking on part-time work as a full-time position was unavailable.
The total number is 2.46m dropping to 7.8 per cent from October’s 7.9 per cent while the number of jobseeker allowance claimants also dropped to 1.61m.
This is 450,00 fewer than predicted to be out of work during the Budget.
Youth unemployment unexpectedly fell with the number of 16-24-year-olds out of work for the three-month period between September and November, down from 943,000 to 927,000.
Kevin Green, REC chief executive, said: “This is all positive news for job-seekers and confirms that the labour market is now in recovery mode. The REC was the first business organisation to predict we would not reach the three million unemployed mark.
“The road to full employment will be slow but these are encouraging figures today when viewed with increasing employer confidence and a return to hiring activity. It is now essential to avoid any kind of employment legislation which will add to employers’ costs and so hinder future job opportunities.”
Monster UK and Ireland managing director Julian Acquari said earlier: “Despite a still-struggling economy, UK job prospects are improving as employers slowly begin to emerge from financial crisis-induced recruitment hibernation. Clerical and support occupations are leading the way in terms of demand recovery, suggesting companies are primarily seeking temporary staff in order to maintain workforce flexibility as long as the economic uncertainty lingers. However, the uptick in HR opportunities also suggests that more organisations are preparing to increase personnel to take advantage of opportunities presenting themselves in the wake of the downturn.”
Minster for Employment Jim Knight, said: “These figures show the largest number of people coming off unemployment benefit for 15 years which is a sign that our £5bn investment to get people back to work is having an impact. The fact that tens of thousands more young people are taking up the Government’s guarantee of a place in education or training means that they are getting the valuable skills they need to get into work.
“New figures published today show that more than 25,000 people have benefited from the new Six Month Offer, while the sixth round of winning Future Jobs Fund bidders will create almost 6,000 more jobs for young people. This brings the total number of successful bids to create jobs through the Fund so far to almost 104,000. This is in addition to more than 400,000 people who have been helped into jobs through the Job Centres’ Local Employment Partnerships.”