UK unemployment at 17 year high despite 'end' of recession over a year ago, 'shocking'

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3/16/11, "UK unemployment total hits 17-year high," BBC

"UK unemployment rose by 27,000 in the three months to the end of January to 2.53 million, the highest since 1994.

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the jobless rate was now 8%, the highest since 1996....

The unemployment rate for 18-24 year olds was also at an all-time high at 18.3%....

• The TUC general secretary, Brendan Barber, called the figures "shocking".

He said: "Over a year after the recession technically ended, unemployment is now at its highest level since the mid-1990s, with 2.53 million people out of work.

"While the fall in the numbers claiming the dole is welcome, the number of jobs available in the economy has also fallen and there are

• over a million people in part-time work seeking permanent jobs."

David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, described the figures as "mixed, but not as bad as some had feared".

"We reiterate our forecast that total unemployment is likely to increase to 2.65 million over the next 12-15 months

• before it starts declining," he said."

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