For 3 months through April
ILO Unemployment Rate
Provided by: Office of National Statistics

UK unemployment rate for the 3 months to April rose to 5.3%, the highest in seven months. Claims for jobless benefits increased for a 4th month, up 9,000 to 819,000. These results came despite the number of people in employment for the 3 month to April coming in at 29.55 million, the highest figure since comparable records began being kept in 1971. with more people looking for jobs, competitition will be tight while the labor market is getting looser. The economy is being hit by weaker domestic demand as high inflation eats into consumers purchasing power, and falling house prices ruin their confidence. Firms and households are also dealing with high interest rates, and the Bank of England is in a bind as it can not lower rates for fear there are upside risks to inflation right now, and their preference would be to actually raise rates.

For May
Provided by: Office of National Statistics

Claimant Count Unempl. Rate: 2.5% forecast 2.5%, pr. 2.5%

UK's labor market situation is showing weakness as the total claimant count increased for the 4th straight month going up to 819,300. The previous month's figures were revised up significantly as well. Employers feel the pinch from the credit squeeze and has been thining their work force in anticipation of further slowdown in the economy. In the past 3 months initial claimant figures have been revised up and also show an accelerating pace of job cuts.

There is no question that the BoE will have to make moves to prevent a recession, but at the moment, inflation is at the forefront of discussion. By itself, rising prices will cut into consumer spending and sentiments. Businesses will feel the pinch and employment will be pressured. So everything is riding on prices to stabilize, at least that is what the Bank of England and many central banks are thinking.  

For April
Provided by: Office of National Statistics

Claimant Count Unempl. Rate: 2.5%, forecast 2.5%, pr. 2.5%

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose by 7,200 in April. Revised data for March and February showed that unemployment rose during those months (11,400 in the last 3 months). It's the first time since June 2006 that the Claimant count was positive for three month, and implies that the UK labor market is starting to loosen. With high inflation the central bank may not be able to lower rates at the pace they wanted in order to counter sputtering growth.

For March
Provided by: Office of National Statistics

From the Release: "The claimant count was 794,300 in March 2008, down 1,200 over the previous month and down 110,600 over the year. This is the lowest figure since June 1975."

For February
Provided by: Office of National Statistics

Unemployment fell for a 17th straight month as the claimant count fell 2,800 from January to a total of 793,500. This is the lowest total since June 1975. Expectations though were for a larger fall of 5,000 for the month. The unemployment rate remained at 5.2%, and average earnings, including bonuses, inched down to 3.7%. Continued strong employment helps the UK economy as consumers have more spending money and better security. Since the economy is feeling pressures from housing and other areas affected by higher credit costs, it is important that consumers are there to counter-balance those negative factors. In any case, growth is expected to slow to a pace of just 1.6% this year. February's change in the claimant count was relatively small and may soon turn positive if the economy's slowdown translates into job losses.  

3 Months to Dec, as measured by the International Labor Organization

Official Release: Office of National Statistics

"The unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent, down 0.2 over the previous quarter and down 0.3 over the year. The number of unemployed people decreased by 61,000 over the quarter and by 86,000 over the year, to reach 1.61 million.

The inactivity rate for people of working age was 21.0 per cent for the three months to December 2007, down 0.2 over the previous quarter but unchanged over the year."

The unemployment rate as measured by International Labor Organization standards fell to 5.2% in the quarter through December, the lowest since the three months ended January 2006. Employment rose 175,000 in the fourth quarter, the most in more than a decade, to a record 29.4 million, the statistics office said today.

For January
Official Release from the Office of National Statistics

"There has been a further fall in the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance benefit. The number of job vacancies has increased.

The claimant count was 794,600 in January 2008, down 10,800 over the previous month and down 128,500 over the year. This is the lowest figure since June 1975. The claimant count has now fallen for 16 consecutive months."

"The employment rate for people of working age was 74.7 per cent for the three months to November 2007, up 0.3 from the previous quarter and up 0.1 over the year. The number of people in employment for the three months to November 2007 was 29.36 million. This is the highest figure since comparable records began in 1971 and is up 175,000 over the quarter and up 263,000 over the year. This is the largest quarterly increase in the number of people in employment since 1997. Total hours worked per week were 939.5 million, up 1.2 million over the quarter and up 11.8 million over the year.

The unemployment rate was 5.3 per cent, down 0.1 both over the previous quarter and over the year. The number of unemployed people decreased by 13,000 over the quarter and by 29,000 over the year, to reach 1.65 million."