Playing now:

Unemployment fall first for a year

Unemployment has fallen for the first time in almost a year, but the number of women out of work has risen to its highest level since 1987.The jobless total fell by 35,000 in the quarter to February, to 2.65 million, a rate of 8.3%, while jobseeker's allowance claimants increased for the 17th month in a row in March, up by 3,600 to 1.61 million, the smallest monthly rise since last December.The Government said the figures were a "step in the right direction", pointing out that employment grew by 53,000 to 29 million.