Press Story

Analysis of today's unemployment figures, by the think tank IPPR, shows that while unemployment has fallen for the first time in ten months, there are 8,000 more women unemployed and 27,000 more women out of work for more than a year.

There are now more than a million women (1,136,000) unemployed, the highest since 1987 and a rise of 100,000 over the last year. Of those, over a quarter (29%) of women (327,795) have been unemployed for more than a year

Overall long term unemployment rose 26,000, the highest level since 1996, a total of 882,821. While 1,000 men have left long-term unemployment, there are now 27,000 more women out of work for more than a year. IPPR predicts there will be almost a million unemployed for more than a year by the end of this year.

While youth unemployment has fallen by 9,000, there are still more than a million (1,033,440) young people (aged 16-24) unemployed, the second highest since comparable records began in 1992. Of those, 263,000 young people (aged 16-24) have been unemployed for more than a year.

There has also been a rise in part-time work, which rose by 80,000 while the level of full-time employment fell by 27,000. There are now 1.4 million people working part-time because they say they cannot get longer hours.

Almost half a million (430,672) people over 50 are now unemployed, up 42,000 in the last year. More than 40 per cent of unemployed over fifties have been out of work for more than a year, up 13,000 over the last year to 189, 593.

Graeme Cooke, IPPR Associate Director, said:

"The drop in unemployment and rise in employment revealed in today's figures are the first glimmers of good labour market news for almost a year. But only last month, the Office of Budget Responsibility predicted that unemployment will rise this year and not peak until the end of the summer.

"There remain worrying trends underneath today's positive headlines. The fall in the overall jobless count masks a continuing rise in female unemployment, now higher than at any point since 1987.

"Long term unemployment continues to rise, reaching its highest level since 1996. There is a real risk that these people will struggle to take advantage of any upturn in the economy.

"The priority for the government must be to prevent long term unemployment, with a job guarantee, and to support women to get back to work, by prioritising childcare."

IPPR North analysis shows the number of unemployed people compared to a year ago is:

up 22 per cent in the North West (57,000 more people unemployed)
up 11 per cent in the North East (14,000 more people unemployed)
up 11 per cent in London (44,000 more people unemployed)
up 12 per cent in East of England (22,000 more people unemployed)
up 9 per cent in South West (14,000 more people unemployed)
up 8 per cent in South East (20,000 more people unemployed)
up 5 per cent in Wales (7,000 more people unemployed)
up 2 per cent in Yorkshire and Humber (5,000 more people unemployed)
up 2 per cent in Scotland (4,000 more people unemployed)
up 5 per cent in East Midlands (9,000 more people unemployed)
down 7 per cent in West Midlands (19,000 fewer people unemployed)

In the latest twelve months (to December 2011), public sector employment contracted by 270,000, while private sector employment increased by only 226,000. Although figures for the last three months are better - public sector employment down 37,000; private sector employment up 45,000 - the private sector is not creating jobs fast enough to offset the cuts in the public sector and the growth of the workforce. As a consequence, unemployment is increasing. This contrasts with the picture a year ago. Over the twelve months to December 2010, public sector employment contracted by 140,000, while private sector employment increased by 457,000.

Notes to Editors

Unemployment figures published today are available from:

http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/labour-market-statistics/april-2012/index.html

The OBR's latest forecast is available from:

http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/wordpress/docs/March-2012-EFO1.pdf

IPPR North's interim report of the Northern Economic Futures Commission is available from: http://ippr.org/publications/55/8992/northern-prosperity-is-national-prosperity-nefc-interim-report

IPPR's report - Jobs for the Future: The path back to full employment in the UK - is available from http://www.ippr.org/publications/55/7938/jobs-for-the-future-the-path-back-to-full-employment-in-the-uk

IPPR's report - 10 ways to promote growth - is available from http://bit.ly/IPPR8266

IPPR's report - Making the case for universal childcare - is available to download from:

http://ippr.org/publications/55/8382/making-the-case-for-universal-childcare

Contact

Richard Darlington, 07525 481 602, r.darlington@ippr.org

Tim Finch, 07595 920899, t.finch@ippr.org

Tamsin Crimmens, 07800 742 262, t.crimmens@ippr.org