Unemployment at three-year high

Wednesday, 17, May 2006 12:00

UK unemployment is at its highest level for three years, figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal.

The statistics cover the three months to March 2006, and show that although the employment rate is up to 74.7 per cent, one of the highest figures on record, unemployment has also risen.

Unemployment is up by 44.000 in the last quarter, now standing at 1.59 million. Analysts have attributed this to an increase in the number of women seeking work.

The rise in unemployment has been reflected in an increase in those claiming Jobseekers' Allowance, up 106,000 on the year.

Figures published in April by the Department of Work and Pensions show numbers claiming incapacity benefits have fallen by 61,000 in the year to November, and those on lone parent benefits fell by 18,000.

Vacancies remain high at an estimated level of 598,700 and redundancies low at 144,000.