Financial News
- 13 December 2012, 13:33
Youth Unemployment Falls Amid Jobs Record
There has been the biggest quarterly fall in unemployment for a decade amid a welcome drop in the number of young people without work.
The Office for National Statistics said unemployed 16- to 24-year-olds fell by 72,000 to 945,000 in the three months to October.
It helped drive a fall of 82,000 in the total jobless total to 2.51 million - with a record number of people now in work after what the ONS said was the biggest quarterly fall in unemployment since the spring of 2001.
The jobless total was down by 128,000 on a year ago.
Employment jumped by 40,000 to 29.6 million, the highest figure since records began in 1971 and up by half a million on a year ago.
The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell unexpectedly in November by 3,000 to 1.58 million following rises in the previous two months. Analysts had expected an increase of 7,000.
The figures highlighted the growing gulf between public and private sector employment as public sector jobs fell for the 12th consecutive quarter, by 24,000 to 5.7 million, the lowest since 2002.
Employment in the civil service was cut by 3,000 to 455,000, the lowest since records began in 1999, while local government employment also fell to a record low of 2.5 million after a cut of 32,000.
Private sector employment rose by 65,000 in the latest quarter to 23.8 million, the highest on record.
That figure was seized on by employment minister Mark Hoban as proof that the Government is delivering on its economic programme.
He told Sky News: "Cynics were saying the private sector wouldn't step up to the plate, they wouldn't create the jobs ...to offset losses in the public sector but we've seen in the last year an extra half a million people in work."
But Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, claimed that the Government's handling of the economy meant that millions of families faced another miserable Christmas with "little hope of things getting better".
He said: "Instead of the recovery the Government inherited in 2010, the economy faces a triple dip recession due to the failed and futile attempt to deflate their way to growth."
At Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons, the Labour leader Ed Miliband welcomed the fall in unemployment but highlighted stubborn long-term unemployment and sought assurances from David Cameron that more would be done to tackle it.
what do you think?
TIM x
Good but how many of these jobs are for Christmas temps? And how many of these jobs went to migrant workers?
blue side
TIMx was going to ask the same questions do they not realise there is always a seasonal fall in unemployment this time of the year - lies, darn lies and bl..dy statistics
davenlesley
Tim. Does it matter. Be glad that 72,000 young people have a job and some money coming in for the time being at least.
Michael Hawkins
Tim I doubt if any of these jobs are XMAS Temps The figures are UP TO OCTOBER - a little early for xmas that is August, September and October to make it simple for you
t.bulgin
don't be a neg. get some positivity into the vibes. especially around youngsters. we get them where i work and they are 95% really up for making a go of any opportunity that comes their way.
Greg Bungham
So nothing to do with the fact that people on JSA on a back to work scheme such as workfare are actually classified as being in work and not on JSA (even though they are on JSA). Nothing to do with people being cut off JSA due to targets given to jobcentre staff to knock them off wherever they can. The body language of Mark Hoban also indicates he's aware that he's lying.
Greg Bungham
My source of information: My sister works for the DWP and they still put these targets onto jobcentre staff. Re the body language - I am a counsellor so it's part of my job to read people partly through their body language.
t.bulgin
your a councellor and your sister works for the dwp. well theres two completely trustworthy occupations then. you must be right.
Louisa Gieldon
tb what is a councellor?
Louisa Gieldon
Greg a very close relative of mine works there too and she says the same. Officially govt targets re sanctions do not exist but jobcentre staff are still being instructed to work to these unofficial targets and staff are getting into trouble if they don't meet the targets. It means that people's benefit is being stopped for the flimsiest of reasons and jobcentres are falling over themselves to stop the most claims and beat the jc+ down the road.
Alf Bibby
I would love to see a breakdown of individual jobs, are they full time or parttime, are they permanent or temporary, do they include jobs at ther Olymics or Xmas casuals how many are training etc etc
t.bulgin
a job is a job. labour and tories count em the same way.
hollywoodbowden
Foreign people will work why would the youth of England get a job when they just get pregnant and get benefits and have everything for free
blue side
Hope you are not talking about both sexes cause if you are we need to tell you a couple of things. But don't be cynical stereotyping is dangerous ground many kids are willing to work - give them leadership and its amazing what they can do. Foreign people are not all sweetness and light
hollywoodbowden
Its kids having kids these days brought up in lazyness
t.bulgin
well said blue. lot of hard working kids eager to make a go of it around.
Nigel L
A fall of 82,000 in the jobless total yet only a 3,000 fall in people claiming job seekers allowance something fishy going on ?
blue side
Suspect this is related to the definitions of unemployed and how benefits are given. It is however something which should be clarified in the report
Edgar Beckett
Never in the field of human endeavour have so many been employed to produce so little.
hollywoodbowden
Your a moran
Edgar Beckett
And what are you ? a freeloader.
t.bulgin
whats a moran ?
Name witheld
This comment has been removed for violations of our Terms and Conditions.
bjnk
Only 40000 rise in employment but 72000 16 - 24 not now on jobseekers, like i've said before sanctions make up difference.
SagePhotoWorld
And how many are now in jail?
happymike CHESTER
Cameron counting the part time workers i.e. 10/15/20 hours working on minimum wages ,trust the Tories to fiddle the stats most living at home with bank of mum and dad. Fiddling comes natural to Tories they are Bankers after all.
t.bulgin
Labour counted them. Lying comes naturally to labour, they are liars after all.
SagePhotoWorld
What we need to do is to ensure that British citizens get first choice of the jobs. Any employer that employs a foreigner or an immigrant must explain to a Judge why he needs that individual instead of a native British person.
joelle cooke
any employer,will employ the best suitable person,for their skills,and not nationality,
davenlesley
Joelle. Which is exactly how it should be. Not because they are black, not because they a female, not because they are disabled but because they are the best person for the job.
t.bulgin
Thats right joelle. because the law tells them to. not because they want to. stupid european human rights.
t.bulgin
Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, claimed that the Government's handling of the economy meant that millions of families faced another miserable Christmas with "little hope of things getting better". They hate it because things are slowly getting better. It could mean that their puppet won't get into number 10. In fact, power at any cost means that they are probably doing their best to prevent things improving and are more that happy to see people struggling. Once in power they won't give a to$$.
bjnk
Just like the present encumbrents,so what changes.
t.bulgin
The difference is that the unions claim to be for the people, which is rubbish. They are for power at any cost, through their puppet, the labour party. They do not hold the wealth. At least the tories, if successful, are able to create wealth. The lesser of two evils.
Grant Berry
10:05am on 12/12/2012
More great news, along side a rising stock market, lowest ever interest rates & deficet reduction by 25%. Good work Cameron ! :-) Thank goodnesss Gordon Clown didnt get back in we'd be upto the necks in it
Alf Bibby
11:45am on 12/12/2012
Granty Granty Granty you strawberry flan. there is none so blind as he who does not see. As I told you last month they are not real jobs they are training jobs with nothing at the end of them, they are people classed as self employed delivering leaflet and cold calling on a commision basis not on a wage. Granty Granty Granty you plum duff under Calamity Cameron we are drowning never mind up to our necks
blue side
11:58am on 12/12/2012
In fact Alf I would correct you and suggest you look at seasonal employment and you will find every year at this time unemployment figures go down.
Alf Bibby
12:56pm on 12/12/2012
Blue side I aint disagreeing with that, it just strenghtens my argument there is nothing new about falling unemployment this time of year Lets see what it is like in March
blue side
2:19pm on 12/12/2012
Alf don't ask me to make a bet that it will stay. At least as davenlesley said there are a few more who might smile this Christmas with a couple of bucks in their pocket.
simon williams
6:56pm on 13/12/2012
its all rubbish. its the people they kicked of the sick and put on temp work replacments
t.bulgin
5:48pm on 15/12/2012
Your right Grant, things are looking up.