253,000 now out of work in Yorkshire

Yorkshire’s total stands at 253,000 or 9.2 per cent, 11,000 up on the previous quarter. The rate is the UK’s second highest, behind only the north east.

Nationally. the number of people in work fell by 2,000 in the latest quarter to February, to just under 30 million - the first time the figure has dipped since autumn 2011.

Today’s data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed that 900,000 people have been out of work for more than a year, an 8,000 increase on the three months to November, while the number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 20,000 to 979,000.

There was a 7,000 fall in Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants last month, to 1.53 million.

Meanwhile, the rise in average earnings continued to lag behind inflation, with total pay increasing by just 0.8% in the year to February, down by 0.4% on the previous month.

Statisticians said it was the lowest growth rate since the end of 2009, while the 1% rise in regular pay, which excludes bonuses, was the lowest since records began in 2001.

The number of people classed as economically inactive, including students, people on long-term sick leave or those who have given up looking for work, fell by 57,000 to 8.95 million.

Despite today’s increase in unemployment, the total is 71,000 lower than a year ago.

There has been a 62,000 fall in the number of people in part-time jobs, to just over eight million, with a 60,000 increase in full-time employment, to 21.6 million.

Employment Minister Mark Hoban said: “Today’s figures show a further fall in the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including a welcome drop amongst young people.

“But there are still tough challenges ahead. We will continue to give jobseekers all the help and support they need to realise their aspirations.”

Ministers said the number of JSA claimants fell in every region of England, Wales and Scotland, while the number of new claims was at its lowest level for more than four years.

The number of young people claiming JSA is down by 2,800 on the month, and is 65,400 lower than last year.

GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said: “The Chancellor should heed IMF advice to change course to grow the economy to end this needless waste of human talent.”

John Salt, director of recruitment website totaljobs.com, said: “The heavy snow placed a crippling freeze on growth for retailers and small businesses. The extended winter also put the brakes on building work in the UK.

“These employment figures, alongside rising fuel costs, have seen both jobseekers and consumer confidence left out in the cold. Although spring has finally arrived, the Chancellor will be finding it hard to identify shoots of recovery.”

Peter Searle, chief executive of Adecco Group, said: “Today’s employment figures reflect belt- tightening and hiring freezes of many employers. Although we have seen early signs of optimism in March and early April, there is no getting away from the worrying numbers of those who are young and unemployed.”

Chris Jessop, managing director of Axa PPP healthcare’s health services division, said: “Today’s news that the number of people over 65 in employment has risen to 967,000 presents employers with both an opportunity and a challenge.

“In one respect it’s good news - experienced workers can continue to add value, potentially playing an important mentoring role to less experienced colleagues. But on the other hand, there is the issue of health, as it’s understood that our health deteriorates as we age, which can result in higher worker absence rates via sick leave.”

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “These figures make for grim reading. Unemployment is up, average wage growth is at its lowest since 2009, and long-term joblessness is continuing to rise.

“In the week that the IMF called on the Government to ease off austerity, today’s results provide further evidence of why the Chancellor must change course and prioritise jobs, growth and living standards.

“Our jobs market is a long way off a strong recovery and is being made worse by economic policies which are failing to deliver sustained employment growth and rising real wages.”

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “The rise in unemployment is a stark reminder that we have a Government led by a party that thinks unemployment is a price worth paying.

“As George Osborne resurrects the failed policies of Thatcher and feeds his addiction to austerity, the number of long-term unemployed grows and a generation of young people face a life on the dole.”

Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said: “This rise in unemployment is further proof that the Chancellor has lost his grip on the economy. Every job lost is a personal tragedy and yet compared to pre-crisis levels, there are a million more people facing the misery of unemployment in the UK. The Government has failed every single one of these people.”

Ian Brinkley, director of The Work Foundation, said: “As we predicted, economic reality has caught up with the labour market. The jobs recovery of 2012 appears to have stalled.

“Comparing the three months to February with the previous three months shows that our economy has stopped creating new jobs, unemployment is increasing and wage growth has stalled. The increase in youth unemployment is of particular concern and disappointing given the coalition has made tackling youth unemployment such a high priority.”

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne said: “Three years on it’s now clear the Government’s plan is failing, and failing badly. Not only are more people unemployed than at the election, it’s soaring up.

“Yet to add insult to injury this Government is slashing tax credits and child benefit but giving millionaires a tax cut. Families are £891 worse off because of tax and benefit changes and pay packets are now a whopping £1,700 smaller than at the last election. People have to work almost an extra month and a half to make what they did in 2010. Working people are going backwards.

“With the IMF warning George Osborne to change course and unemployment getting worse, it’s clear the time has come for a fresh approach.”

Martina Milburn, chief executive of The Prince’s Trust, said: “Youth unemployment is still dangerously close to a million.

“Thousands of these young people are long-term unemployed, often facing further challenges such as poverty and homelessness. We must act now to support these young people into work and give them the chance of a better future.”

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The labour market figures are disappointing, but unsurprising. Despite the fairly large rise in unemployment, the number of those in jobs has remained almost unchanged. The level of inactivity fell by 57,000 in the three months to February as more people returned to the workforce, and this contributed to the increase in unemployment.

“Although the UK labour market remains surprisingly robust, overall the outlook is uncertain. It is realistic to expect further increases in the jobless total if the private sector is able to only absorb some of the expected reductions in public sector employment. In our recent forecast, we predicted that unemployment would increase to 2.6 million in 2014.”