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Jobless figure sees huge rise
Wednesday 13th August 2008, 2:30PM BST.
The number of people out of work in Britain jumped by 60,000 today, the highest monthly rate in 15 years.
In a fresh sign of economic gloom, unemployment rose to 1.67 million in the last three months, the worst for more than a year.
Total unemployment is now 15,000 higher than a year ago and the number claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 20,100 in July to 864,700.
The figures were released as the Bank of England warned of a deepening economic slowdown predicting inflation will peak at five per cent before falling back down next year.
Shropshire mirrored the national statistics, with the number of people out of work up to 2,535 from 2,403. In Telford & Wrekin, the figure rose from 2,285 to 2,365 and in Powys, it went from 1,038 to 1,128.
Jobless figures were up across most districts in the county, with the exception of South Shropshire which remained the same at 293 and Oswestry, which dropped by one to 432.
The highest rise was in North Shropshire which went up by 50 to 583 claimants, the number of people claiming the allowance in Bridgnorth went from 349 in June to 385 last month and Shrewsbury & Atcham figures showed a hike of 47, from 795 to 842.
Nationally, manufacturing jobs continued to be lost, down by 37,000 in the latest quarter to a record low of 2.88 million.
Vacancies were also down, by 47,000 in the three months to July to 634,900.
Meanwhile, Bank of England Governor Mervyn King was today expected to release a report which will highlight the inflationary stranglehold which has so far prevented the Bank from cutting interest rates in order to bolster the faltering UK economy.
Analysts currently expect rates to remain at five per cent for the rest of the year, before a series of rate cuts next year as inflation starts to ease. Yesterday, inflation hit a new record of 4.4 per cent due to the rising costs of fuel and food.
In its quarterly inflation report, the Bank will provide projections for inflation and growth over the next two years and give clues on how Mr King intends to get inflation back to its two per cent target.
By Business Editor Amy Bould
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Election, please, Gordon.
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A huge rise? – More spin from the Shropshire Star. We had unemplyment around the 5 million mark in the ’80s – we’re nowhere near that!
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No election please Gordon
We do not want that clown Cameron getting in.
have a election in 2010 Gordon by that point the Tory Party will have shot themselves in the foot
and if you offer 150 pounds this winter to families with children for heating you are assured of keeping power
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Add all the incapacity benefit crew and its above five million
Keep smiling! the country really is a joke
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no worries harold, we are not going back to the bad old days of the tories, you would be better off thinking who will be the next tory leader,er, lord tebbit or kenneth clark?
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Unemployment is set to rise further. I’m seriously assessing my career options and consider unemployment to be much better than being employed. I currently cannot afford my horrendous mortgage due to been unfortunate enough to have not been able to purchase a house 10 years ago when they were affordable. My bills are all increasing and my wages are not. I cannot receive any benefits as I’m fit, healthy and don’t have children.
At least if i didn’t have a job and declared myself bankrupt I would have a bigger house, and guaranteed increase in income every 12 months due to regular reviews of the ‘poverty stricken’ unemployed. I would be able to afford luxuries such as smoking, Satellite TV, and weekly drinking sessions.
Until then I will carry on working long hours and sacrifice life’s luxuries for pride, honour and self respect!
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big matty,get a life,being on benefits isnt that great, you would probaly get £65 a week,you have to eat,wash and pay for gas,electric,tv and dont forget you satalite if you get it, and your weekly drinking sessions and clothes,water.you working folk make me sick!!Im on benefits for a reason,think yourself lucky that your well enough to work!!
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all this unemployment can be sorted by the tory think tank proposal to move residents from life expired cities in the north to the south. another wonderful tory cunning plan, which young diddy david cameron has to explain away. harold suddenly there is a place for you in sunderland, away the lads, the tory boat has come home to roost!!
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still miles better than the Tories
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No suprise, the taxes are so high it doesnt pay to work anymore, im going to live in majorca but claim UK dole as an EU citizen, then I even get a winter fuel payment courtesy of the uk taxpayer to buy me some cold beers inthe 80 degree spanish winter….LOL… thank you Darling
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thank fully the Labour Government has built such a strong economy that we can afford this and we will ride this storm
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Y Mab must be a Labour politician.
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Its always sad if people are laid off, but its not so bad, its a low number still and there are still plenty of jobs out there for those willing to work, atleast its not as bad as when the tories were in though hey
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Mr J.
A life on benefits is the EASY way out.
You get your mortgage or rent paid for by the council
No council tax to pay.
and if your a family you get sufficient benefits to ensure it is not working unless your going to be given a job which earns over 30K per year and for many of the jobless in Shropshire where the average wage is 14K that is just not going to hapen.
If I was in charge I would not give money to unemployed
I would issue vouchers which have to be spent on life essentials ie food and energy
No money would be given to the unemployed to waste on luxuries ie cigarrettes, Alcohol etc until they are employed they would be forbidden access to luxuries of any kind
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it could be worse, wecould have a tory government who would let it get worse
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Y Mab – u dont get your motgage paid when on benefits now.
I claim benefit but dont spend it on booze, I brew my own. I grow all my own veg all year round and rear chickens. I also collect scrap metal and sell it doing the environment good.
Of course not everyone is as lucky as me. Its very hard to live on benefits, even as self-sufficient as I am, I would find it difficult to manage if I didn’t get cash in hand jobs.
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Thank goodness your not running for Prime Minister so called Son of Destiny who seems to be suffering from Shortsightedness with his Stereotypical views of unemployed people.
We live in a democracy not a draconian society
I this, I that, I would, Pah! Not happening!
Nothing but hot air from Welshie Boy!
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If you all think labour are doing so well lets take it to the polls now, public opinion would suggest youre in the minority.
Labour is no longer for the working class, its for the dole class.
lefties are ruining this country.
Knock the tories all you like, Labour have had their chance and everyone agrees things are getting bad, how bad it will be we are yet to see. Everyone seems to compare the tories to the scenes on TV in the early 80s, alots changed in over a quarter of a century.
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steve, it may dawn on you that new labour is for all, when the tories wake up that they need one nation policies they the tories may get elected but not until say, 2059
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1.67 million unemployed, inflation 4.4% worth comparing those figures with say 1991. er 3.8 million unemployed and 10% inflation oh and interest rates 15% compared to 5% now. now who was in power in 1991, oh yes those awfully nice tories. remeber these figures h st john peasebody it may remind you who to vote for next time, i should give that awfully nice diddy david cameron a miss next time, you know your better off with new labour
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Unemployment would be a different issue if benefits were handed out on a loan basis. When the Job dodger…. sorry SEEKER eventually finds a job they should have an increased tax code to reimburse other tax payers for the free cash they have been given. A bit like if I’m short of money I can go to the bank and ask for some to help pay my mortgage and bills, but…. I have to pay it back!
Another thing, if there are so many unemployed then why are there so many jobs available at the job centre and agencies etc? Could it possibly be because these job seekers cannot find a job with a suitable wage?
I’m considering going on benefits and seeking a job until I achieve the £250k package I’m quite clearly worth! Anyone that wants to challenge this can speak to the human rights lot!
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Matty,
You might be interested to know how little genuine jobseekers actually get.
If for example, as with a number of people I know, you had worked for 20 years or more, and were then made redundant, you would get about 50 quid a week, and that for only a maximum of 6 months. This after paying full tax and NI contributions for all that time.
No other benefits are paid until all savings etc. are gone, and only then where there is no other level of benefit in the family.
My point is, there are genuine jobseekers, who find themselve out of work through no fault of their own, and despite their contributions into the system, they don’t get that much out of it whilst unemployed.
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