Post by nickd on Nov 14, 2012 22:42:27 GMT 1
14 November 2012
"Minister welcomes another fall in unemployment"
"Minister welcomes another fall in unemployment"
The number of people who are unemployed has fallen again and there are more people in work, according to new official statistics published today.
But how accurate are these statistics?
Minister for Employment, Mark Hoban, welcomed the figures from the Office for National Statistics which show that unemployment fell 49,000 this quarter to 2.51 million - 110,000 lower than this time last year.
Youth unemployment has also fallen by 49,000 this quarter to 963,000. The figure sits at 648,000 when people in full-time education are excluded from the statistics.
The number of people in employment has also risen by 100,000, with 29.58 million people now in work – up by over half a million compared to the same period last year.
In reality the numbers in work has risen by 100,000 with a claim that the figure is up by half a million on last year. How many are part time? reduced hours? lower wages? people losing one job and finding two to replace it?
Minister for Employment, Mark Hoban, said:
"Another rise in employment shows there are jobs out there. We'll work with people who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and help them get a job.
Oh no! - the dreaded 'roll up your sleeves' statement - the modern day Camoronism for yesterday's 'get on your bike' from the dreaded Thatcher era!
"Unemployment in the UK is well below levels in the Eurozone, the European Union and is lower than in the United States, showing that our welfare reforms are helping the UK compete effectively in the global market place.
Global comparisons are being used to bewilder you - remember how we are continually reminded how other countries are all on the verge of bankruptcy.
"The fall in youth unemployment is particularly welcome, although we’re not complacent about the scale of the challenge still facing us.
"We’re working hard to help the long-term unemployed back into a job. That’s why we’ve committed to supporting the hardest-to-help people over a two year period through the Work Programme so that we can help them overcome their barriers to work and get them into sustainable jobs."
An unsurprising lack of reference to some real statistics from the infamous Work Programme and all those on 'training schemes' rather than in real jobs.
The figures also show that the number of people who are classed as inactive – people who are not looking for work - has fallen by 25,000 this quarter, with the number of people inactive due to long term sickness falling by 83,000.
It always helps to change the classification of economically inactive. Lone parents who for instance now have to sign on rather than look after their children.
The number of people on the main inactive benefits such as incapacity benefit, Employment and Support Allowance or Lone Parent Income Support has fallen to 3 million - the lowest figure in nearly 20 years.
A particularly interesting claim we will take a look at, particularly the way they are all counted together.
This month the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) rose by 10,100, but the total is still 10,900 lower than a year ago. This reflects that welfare reforms – including the reassessment of incapacity benefit claimants and rules on lone parents claiming income support – mean more non-working people are transferring to JSA from other benefits.
Hang on Hoban? Not that long ago you were all claiming 75% on the sick were on the fiddle - so with over 2.6 million by my reckoning that should be an awful lot more on JSA or in work - it hardly adds up does it! Oh and Unemployment benefits are up Mr Hoban not down.
Mr Hoban added:
"These figures suggest that our welfare reforms are working, with fewer people on long-term sickness benefits and more people either in or looking for work."
Oh come off it. Just how many long term Incapacitated do you think have been attached let alone helped by the Work Programme?
The number of UK nationals in work has risen by 455,000 over the last year, accounting for nearly 90% of the total rise in employment. The employment rate of UK nationals is now 71.9% compared with 68.6% for foreign nationals.
The number of vacancies open at any one time has also risen this quarter to 479,000 – up 16,000 compared to this time last year.
So 16,000 more vacancies - big deal! these could be part time and remember how many unemployed there are chasing these 479,000 vacancies.
The regional picture is also encouraging with more people in work in the North East, North West, London, Yorkshire and Humber, the West Midlands, Wales and Northern Ireland. Unemployment fell in the North East, North West, Yorkshire and Humber, East Midlands, the South West and Wales.
Full-time employment is up 51,000 this quarter and the number working part-time rose 49,000. More than 80 per cent of people working part-time do so because it suits their needs.
So full time jobs up by 51,000 in a quarter and an equal rise of 49,000 part time jobs - in which 80% love them because 'they suit their needs'.
www.dwp.gov.uk/newsroom/press-releases/2012/nov-2012/dwp119-12.shtml
I note the above DWP link doesn't provide any direct access to the ONS statistics - we'll just have to go and find them.....