Unemployment Numbers Drop to 2.46m

The Government welcomed new reports that show that the number of unemployed people in the UK has fallen for the first time since the start of the recession.

Unemployment figures were reduced by 7,000 in the three months leading up to November last year, leaving the total amount of people unemployed in the UK at 2.46 million.

The amount of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) also fell for the second month in a row, with reductions of 15,200 in December 2009, the biggest monthly cut since April 2007.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) also reported that the rate of unemployment now stands at 7.8%, reduced from 7.9% from the month before.

It has been reported that the rapid reduction in unemployment was fuelled by an increase in the amount of people taking on part-time work. The number of people in temporary employment reached a record high of 7.71 million last month.

According to the ONS over a million part-time workers are working temporary hours because they are unable to find a full-time job – the highest figures since 1992.

UK chief economist at Deutsche Bank, George Buckley, said that employees during a recession are more willing to accept low pay and temporary hours in return for keeping or securing a job, this helps to stem job losses and would explain the rise in part-time employment.

Job Centre Vacancies says: It would appear that the reduction in unemployment stems from a dramatic increase in part-time jobs. Part-time employment is great way of getting your foot in the door and in many cases can lead to a full-time role. Taking on temporary work also helps to develop new skills and fill out gaps in your CV.

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