UK unemployment rate soars to 11-year high

The number of unemployed people in the UK soared to an 11-year high to 1.82 million, with the number of people out of work increasing by as much as 1,40,000 during the September quarter.

The rate of unemployment increased to 5.8 per cent for July-September 2008, up 0.4 per cent over the previous quarter, according to the data released by the Office of National Statistics.

"The number of unemployed people increased by 1,40,000 over the quarter and by 1,82,000 over the year, to reach 1.82

million. The last time the number of unemployed was higher in the three months to December 1997," the statement said.

The official jobless data follows the announcement of as many as 5,000 job cuts by firms including Virgin Media and Yellow Pages major Yell last night.

Similarly, the United States witnessed the unemployment level rise to 6.5 per cent in October, its highest level since 1994, while 2,40,000 jobs were slashed in the month.

Back in the UK, the employment rate for the people of working age was 74.4 per cent for the three months to September 2008, down 0.4 from the previous quarter.

The number of those employed stood at 29.41 million for the three-month period ended September, down 99,000 over the quarter but increasing by 1,34,000 over the year, the statement said.

The data further revealed that although employment has fallen over the quarter, the average hours worked per week has increased.

Source: ndtvprofit