Unemployed total hits 14-year high

Wed Sep 16 2009 14:39:26

Unemployment is at a 14-year high of 2.47 million after a 210,000 rise in the three months to July.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance rose by 24,400 to 1.61 million in August - the highest since May 1997.

It is the 18th monthly rise in a row according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The recession's impact on young people was also underlined by jobless totals among 16-24-year-olds reaching 947,000 - the highest level since ONS records began in 1992.

The jobless rate among this age group is also a record 19.7 per cent, meaning one in five is looking for work.

Despite talk of a recovery from this recession, queues at job centres up and down the country continue to grow.

The release of the figures comes less than 24 hours after the announcement that one hundred civilian staff are to lose their jobs at RAF Fairford in Gloucester.

The base, near Cirencester, is home to the world-famous Royal International Air Tattoo.

But, the Government's message remains clear and defiant - ministers say they are doing all they can to get Britain back to work as soon as possible.

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