Unemployment hits highest levels since last autumn

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The number of people out of work in the three months to February was 1.69 million, the worst figure since last autumn and up by 120,000 over the year.

The claimant count, which only covers people on jobseeker's allowance, fell by 9,200 last month to 910,800, the lowest total since the end of 2005.

The count has now fallen for six months in a row and for eight out of the last nine months.

Average earnings increased by 4.6 per cent in the year to February, up by 0.4 per cent on the previous month and the highest figure since March 2004.

The Office for National Statistics said the new figure was fuelled by stronger growth in bonuses in private sectors such as finance.

Earnings growth was 4.9 per cent in private firms, up by 0.4 per cent from the January rate, compared with an unchanged figure of 3.2 per cent in the public sector.

Average earnings in private sector services rose by 5.5 per cent, including bonuses, up by 0.6 per cent, while pay in manufacturing fell back by 0.6 per cent to 3.4 per cent.

Other data showed that the number of people in work fell by 47,000 in the three months to February to 28.9 million, only the second fall in 15 months.

The number of jobs in manufacturing firms continued to be lost, down by 54,000 to 2.97 million in the latest quarter compared with a year ago, the lowest total since records began in 1978.

The number of people classed as economically inactive, including those looking after a relative or who have given up seeking work, increased by 76,000 over the three months to February to 7.93 million, more than 21 per cent of the working age population. The figure is now at its highest for a year.

Around 145,000 people were made redundant in the latest quarter, up by 10,000 on the previous three months and the highest figure since last spring.

There were 4,000 days lost through industrial disputes in February, the lowest figure since last April, although the figure for the year was 788,000 compared with 240,000 in the 12 months to February 2006.