UNEMPLOYMENT has fallen for the fourth month running – and more jobs are being created, according to official figures.
The UK jobless total fell by 65,000 to 2.58m in the three months to May while the number of people in employment rose by 181,000 to just under 30m, the highest for almost four years.
The numbers claiming jobseeker’s allowance jumped by 6,100 last month to 1.6m – including an increase of 8,000 among women to 530,700 – the highest figure for 17 years.
The Office for National Statistics said the increase among women was likely to reflect a change in eligibility rules for lone parent income support from May.
However, local parliamentary constituencies bucked that trend to report a fall in the monthly claimant count.
The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Huddersfield last month fell by 74 to 3,921 while the Colne Valley total was down by 61 to 2,577 and the Dewsbury tally was 65 lower at 2,843.
Unemployment in the three months to May in Yorkshire and Humber rose by about 13,000 to stand at 262,000 or 9.7% of the workforce.
National figures also showed an increase in the number of people out of work for more than two years – up by 18,000 to 441,000, the worst figure since 1997.
The number out of work for more than a year rose by 3,000 to 885,000, while there were just over 1m unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds – down by 10,000 on the three months to February.
Most age groups showed increases in employment, with a rise of 52,000 in over-65s in work to reach 929,000, the highest since records began in 1992.
The unemployment rate is now 8.1%, down by 0.2 percentage points, although the jobless total is 132,000 higher than a year ago.
The number of people classed as economically inactive, including people looking after a relative, on early retirement or who have given up looking for work, fell by 61,000 to 9.2m, mainly due to a cut of 82,000 among students.
The biggest falls in unemployment and increase in work was in London, suggesting that the Olympic Games is having an impact on the figures.
The number of vacancies increased by 10,000 in the quarter to June to 471,000.
Employment minister Chris Grayling said: “This is an encouraging set of figures in what is still an incredibly difficult economic climate.
“Not only is unemployment falling, but in overall terms there are now almost 100,000 less people on benefits since the 2010 election. We still have a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction.”
However, Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “Sadly, the unemployed cannot – and the Government should not – take comfort from these figures.
“The Olympic effect may give the impression of a recovery, but it is a mirage. The number of long-term unemployed is still rising, and huge numbers of women and young people are still struggling to find work”.
