Jobless rise adds to gloom
Wednesday 16th July 2008, 11:50AM BST.
The number of people on unemployment benefit saw its biggest jump in more than 15 years during June, official figures showed today.
In a fresh sign of economic gloom, unemployment increased by 12,000 to 1.62 million in the three months to May.
Those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 15,500 to 840,100, the biggest monthly rise since December 1992, according to the Office for National Statistics.
May’s figures showing a 9,000 rise were also revised sharply higher, giving a total of 14,300 new claimants.
However, there was better news in Shropshire and Powys. Figures showed 2,403 claimants of unemployment benefit in Shropshire compared to 2,427 in May and in Powys, figures dropped by 15 to 1,038.
Jobless figures in Telford & Wrekin rose from 2,250 to 2,285, and they were also up in south Shropshire from 287 to 293 and in Oswestry from 413 to 433.
The number of people claiming the allowance in north Shropshire was down by 22 to 533 and in Shrewsbury and Atcham from 815 to 795.
But today’s statistics have yet to fully reflect growing numbers of redundancies. In recent weeks, housebuilders have cut about 5,000 jobs.
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Unemployment up, economy struggling….
I have an idea on how to fix it all! Lets go on strike until we all get pay rises!
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I am claiming JSA and have applied for a lot of jobs but my age seems to be against me even though I have the experience etc.
Maybe one day they will not think that being over 50 is not a problem.
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