North West Sees UK's Biggest Unemployment Rise

15 February 2012, 13:50 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

The North West has seen the biggest rise in unemployment in the whole of the UK.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that a total of 319,000 people were unemployed in the region between October and December.

The region's unemployment rate was 9.3% and saw a rise of 8.9% during the period, representing the biggest increase in people out of work followed by London at 10.0%.

Across the country the unemployment rate increased to a 16-year high after another rise in the jobless total.

Unemployment jumped by 48,000 in the quarter to December to 2.67 million, a jobless rate of 8.4%, the worst figure since the end of 1995.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 6,900 in January to 1.6 million, the 11th consecutive monthly increase.

The number of women claiming the allowance increased by 1,500 last month to 531,700, the highest figure since the summer of 1995.

A record number of people are working part-time because they cannot find full-time jobs - up by 83,000 over the latest quarter to 1.35 million.

Employment increased by 60,000 to 29 million, mainly due to a rise of 90,000 in the number of part-time employees to 6.6 million.
Other data from the Office for National Statistics showed a 22,000 increase in youth unemployment to 1.04 million, which includes 307,000 in full-time education who were looking for work.