Unemployment rising by 1,300 a day

date: 18 January 2011

embargo: For immediate release

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

'These figures are even worse than the bleak economic forecasts predicted, with new records achieved for youth and female unemployment.

'The fear is now that mass joblessness becomes a permanent scar on the UK - with unemployment rising by 1,300 a day towards the end of last year.

'The news for those in work isn't great either, with pay growth falling and more people having to move to into part-time and insecure self-employment.

'We are in the midst of a full blown jobs crisis that is causing misery for millions and ruining any chance of an economic recovery. Ministers must start putting forward bold solutions to address this crisis, starting with a job guarantee for any young person out of work for six months.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Top 10 employment blackspots, December 2011

Source: nomisweb

- The latest labour market statistics are available at www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/january-2012/statistical-bulletin.html

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

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Elly Gibson T: 020 7467 1337 M: 07900 910624 E: egibson@tuc.org.uk