17 December 2008 – Real help for the unemployed
More support will be rolled out to unemployed people as new Labour Market figures published today show a rise in the numbers of people claiming unemployment benefits.
With over half a million vacancies in the economy which employers are trying to fill, a package of measures is being announced today which will help people gain the right training and skills to ensure they stand the best chance possible of getting back to work.
Employment Minister, Tony McNulty said:
“This month’s Labour Market figures are very disappointing and we will do all we can to give real support to people during these tough times.
“We have put in place extra help and support that will ensure everyone who becomes unemployed stands the best chance possible of getting back to work, including making available £79 million of additional European Social Fund money to support people who become unemployed.”
The £79 million is part of a £158 million package jointly financed by DWP and DIUS, and will specifically target people who most need it to develop their confidence and life skills and help them back into work.
In addition to the new funding, Tony McNulty also confirmed that he has agreed with Jobcentre Plus a five point pledge to anyone who becomes unemployed. Mr McNulty said:
“Every Jobcentre across the country is taking steps to help people who lose their jobs. In the event that someone does become unemployed, I can promise them the extra help and support they need through Jobcentre Plus.
“Firstly people will get to see an expert Personal Jobcentre Plus Adviser who can support them; they will have access to a wide range of jobs and get help with CV writing and completing job applications forms. Where necessary, they will get help with skills advice and retraining. And they can also receive help with their mortgage.
“This is the real help that is on offer to all those who need our support to find a job in these tough times.”
The Labour Market Statistics are published today by the UK Statistics Authority and can be found at www.statistics.gov.uk
Notes to Editors
- The extra funding of £79 million will be available from February 2009, and we are making sure that local providers tailor it to the local labour market to give people the best possible chance of finding work.
Background to the labour market statistics: December 2008
This month’s labour force survey covers August to October 2008. The claimant unemployment and vacancy count dates were 13th November and 7th November respectively.
The number of people in work fell this quarter but remains higher than a year ago
- 29.4 million people were in work in August to October.
- employment fell by 115 thousand on the quarter but is up 57 thousand on the year
- the employment rate is 74.2%, down 0.4 percentage points on the quarter and down 0.4 percentage points on the year
The number of people claiming JSA has risen again this month
- claimant unemployment was 1071.9 thousand in November 2008, up 75.7 thousand on the month, and up 257.5 thousand on the year.
- the claimant unemployment rate, at 3.3%, is up 0.2 percentage points this month and up 0.8 on the year.
- in the year to May 2008, the number of people claiming incapacity benefits fell by 47.4 thousand, to 2.6 million and the number receiving lone parent benefits fell 27 thousand to 739 thousand.
ILO unemployment has risen this quarter
- 1.9 million people were ILO unemployed in August to October, up by 137 thousand on the quarter and 238 thousand on the year
- the ILO unemployment rate is 6.0%, up 0.4 percentage points on the quarter and up 0.7 percentage points on the year.
The level of economic inactivity is up on the quarter but down on the year. The inactivity rate is unchanged on the quarter and down over the year.
- the economic inactivity level is 7.89 million, up 15 thousand on the quarter but down 54 thousand on the year.
- the economic inactivity rate is 20.9%, unchanged on the quarter and down 0.2 percentage points on the year.
- excluding students, inactivity as a proportion of the working age population is unchanged on the quarter and down 0.4 percentage points over the last year, at 15.6%.
The number of redundancies is increasing although there are still many vacancies available
- there were 180 thousand redundancies this quarter, up 41 thousand on the previous quarter and 49 thousand on the same quarter lest year.
- ONS’s vacancy survey estimates an average of 562 thousand unfilled vacancies in the three months to November 2008, down 49 thousand on the quarter, and down 118 thousand on the year.
- in the last month Jobcentre Plus has taken on average around 10,000 new vacancies every working day and many more come up through other recruitment channels
Earnings growth in the year to October was 3.3%, unchanged from September
- Excluding bonuses, average earnings growth was 3.6%, unchanged from the September figure.
Key out-of-work benefits: latest levels, in thousands 1
| Date | Jobseeker's Allowance (claimant count) 2 | Incapacity benefits 3 | Lone Parents on Income Support (IS) 3 | Other (IS others and Pension Credit) 4 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
May-97 |
1,619.6 |
2,616.3 |
1,014.2 |
256.2 |
|
May-98 |
1,350.0 |
2,631.2 |
961.8 |
232.5 |
|
May-99 |
1,273.1 |
2,653.9 |
936.6 |
222.3 |
|
May-00 |
1,104.7 |
2,686.3 |
919.4 |
210.8 |
|
May-01 |
974.9 |
2,753.7 |
900.4 |
180.2 |
|
May-02 |
947.1 |
2,765.7 |
871.0 |
165.6 |
|
May-03 |
947.2 |
2,773.6 |
855.8 |
156.0 |
|
May-04 |
858.1 |
2,772.9 |
823.3 |
155.4 |
|
May-05 |
854.1 |
2,741.6 |
789.3 |
151.1 |
|
May-06 |
951.6 |
2,688.0 |
774.9 |
152.7 |
|
May-07 |
877.4 |
2,643.2 |
765.6 |
167.1 |
|
May-08 |
824.6 |
2,595.8 |
738.6 |
173.3 |
|
Latest |
1071.9 |
2,595.8 |
738.6 |
173.3 |
|
Change May 1997 to May 2008 |
-795 |
-20.5 |
- 275.6 |
- 82.9 |
|
Change on year to latest data |
257.5 |
-47.4 |
-27 |
6.2 |
- Between May 1997 and May 2008, the number of people claiming one of the main out-of-work benefits fell by 1,173,900. Since then there has been a rise in the number of JSA claimants, but it remains the case that the overall number of people on out of work benefits has fallen by over 900,000 since 1997.
1. This table includes the main out-of-work client group categories, with the exception of carers who are not subject to activation policies in the same way as other groups.
2. UK figures (seasonally adjusted) published by ONS. This 100% series is the most reliable and up-to-date source for claimant unemployment. Latest figures are for October 2008.
3. GB figures (not seasonally adjusted). Published by DWP back to August 1999 as part of the 100% working age client group analysis. Earlier consistent figures have been created by combining information from the previously published 5% sample data with the WPLS data. A consistent series for the UK as a whole is not readily available.
4. GB figures (not seasonally adjusted). Published by DWP back to August 1999 as part of the 100% working age client group analysis. Before this point a 5% sample series is used, scaled to be consistent with the 100% data.
5. Excludes around 86,000 claimants in receipt of income support and carers allowance. This group has been stable over time and does not affect the estimated decrease in benefit claimants.
DWP Press Office: 0203 267 5125
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
