Unemployment falls for second month in a row

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• ILO measure shows drop in jobless numbers
• Youth unemployment declined
• But claimant count rose by 12,400 in April
• Average pay up 2.3%

Unemployment fell by 36,000 in the first three months of the year despite the economy's lacklustre rate of growth, official figures show, in a rare piece of good news for George Osborne.

The Office for National Statistics said the number of people out of work on the government's preferred International Labour Organisation measure fell to 2.46m, taking the unemployment rate to 7.7%, from 7.8% in the previous quarter.

It marks the second successive month of declining joblessness, helping to ease the pain for households facing rising inflation and heavy debts.

Youth unemployment – a potential political flashpoint for the coalition – also declined, to 935,000, though that still means one-in-five 16 to 24-year-olds are out of work.

There was a 12,400 increase in the more timely claimant count measure for April, suggesting the labour market remains fragile.

There is still little evidence of inflation-busting wage rises, according to the ONS report – average pay rose at an annual rate of 2.3% including bonuses, or a more modest 2.1% when bonuses are excluded.

• Unemployment and employment statistics
• Economics
• Unemployment
• Job losses

Heather Stewart

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Vikram Dodd 18 May, 2011

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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/may/18/unemployment-falls-claimant-count-rises
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