Unemployment jumps 60,000

Wed 13 Aug 2008 at 2:59 PM

Unemployment figures have increased 60,000 according to government data.

The rise was accompanied by a jump in the number of people claiming benefits – it has risen at its fastest monthly rate for 15 years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed.

Work and Pensions Minister James Plaskitt said the news was disappointing but stressed employment was up and incapacity benefit claimant figures had fallen.

"Despite this months rise in unemployment, there are still 380,000 more people in work than a year ago," he observed.

Mr Plaskitt explained that there is a fast turnover at the present with people who lose one job managing to move "into another in less than 3 months".

There is still plenty good news for jobseekers - ONS's research found there are 634,000 unfilled vacancies and earnings growth has kept with inflation up to now.

Workers in office jobs in Manchester will be hoping their next pay settlement exceeds inflation, which has now reached 4.4 per cent.