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date: 11 November 2009

embargo: For immediate release

Unemployment figures are encouraging but labour market still fragile

Responding to the latest unemployment figures published today (Wednesday), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'Today's unemployment figures - the smallest increase since the recession started - show that the Government's strategy of investing in jobs and growth is starting to pay off.

'Continued investment remains vital as the figures also show that the number of people in temporary work or facing long-term unemployment is rising. Over one in four unemployed people have now been out of work for over a year.

'Those who argue we should now halt investment and scrap the Future Jobs Fund or that government has no positive role to play in addressing hardship and worklessness have some hard questions to answer.

'The labour market is still fragile and the Government must continue to invest in tackling unemployment. Otherwise the long-term unemployed risk getting stuck in a state of semi-permanent worklessness as happened in the last two recessions.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The TUC is hosting a major economics conference next week. Beyond Crisis: A Progressive Future for the UK Economy will look at the impact of the financial crisis on the UK economy and consider how progressive thinking could shape its future. The day-long event takes place at Congress House from 9.30am to 4.30pm on Monday 16 November. Speakers include the Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber and Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills Pat McFadden MP. If you would like to attend all or part of the conference, contact the TUC press office.

- All TUC press releases can be found at www.tuc.org.uk

Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Liz Chinchen T: 020 7467 1248 M: 07778 158175 E: media@tuc.org.uk
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk
Elly Brenchley T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: ebrenchley@tuc.org.uk

Press release (400 words) issued 11 Nov 2009