Long-term unemployment highest since 1997

The number of long-term unemployed claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance jumped by
23,500 last month to reach the highest level since Labour came to power in
1997, new figures show.

Published: 9:37AM GMT 17 Feb 2010

The claimant count increased to 1.64 million in January, the worst figure
since April 1997.

Long-term unemployment, covering those out of work for more than a year,
increased by 37,000 in the quarter to December to 663,000, also the highest
figure since 1997.

The number of people classed as economically inactive reached a record high of
8.08 million, more than 21 per cent of the working age population.

The figure covers students, people looking after a sick relative, or those who
have given up looking for work, with records dating back to 1971.

Unemployment in the latest quarter fell by 3,000 to 2.46 million, giving a
jobless rate of 7.8 per cent, unchanged …

Read the original article at Telegraph

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