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Jobless total hits 1.82m as things get tougher for Britain
Sri Carmichael12 Nov 2008
Unemployment hit an 11-year high of 1.82 million today amid fears that the jobless total could near three million by 2010.
City analysts predict it will smash through the psychologically devastating two million mark by Christmas.
The dole queue is now growing by about 1,000 people every day.
Today's official jobless figure for the three months to September is the highest since the end of 1997, after another 140,000 people lost their jobs in the period. The unemployment rate now stands at 5.8 per cent.
In London it is even higher at 7.4 per cent with 298,000 people out of work, up 18,000 on the previous quarter. Today's grim figures do not take into account the wave of jobs slashed by household firms in recent weeks.
Some 5,000 jobs were lost at leading companies across the British economy yesterday including cuts at Virgin Media, Yell, GlaxoSmithKline and Taylor Wimpey.
The figures confirm Britain is firmly in the grip of recession as experts warn layoffs could hit
all sectors of the economy.
Vicky Redwood, an economist with Capital Economics, said companies in Britain will shed 1.5 million jobs before the recession is over.
She added: “Few, if any, areas of the economy will escape a major labour market shake-out over the next couple of years.”
Graeme Leach, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said: “For the next 12-18 months the only way for unemployment is up.
“We think it will reach 2.5 million by this time next year, peaking at around 2.8 million in 2010.”
David Kern, chief economic adviser for the British Chambers of Commerce, described the figures as “dire”, adding: “They confirm the economy is now facing a severe recession.”
Union leaders called on the Government to act urgently to save people's livelihoods and keep companies afloat.
Derek Simpson, joint general secretary of Unite, said a “massive and urgent programme of government intervention” was needed.
He added: “Every single one of these job losses is a personal tragedy but also a real loss of skills and productivity to the UK economy.”
Mr Simpson argued that the Government should now close tax loopholes which he claimed had allowed the high-earning culprits of the credit crunch to avoid paying their fair share of tax.
His co-general secretary at Unite, Tony Woodley, warned: “A triple spectre is haunting our people this winter — redundancy, rising prices and repossession.”
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber added: “Countering unemployment must be public policy priority number one.”
The Government announced that funding for the Jobcentre Plus Rapid Response Service would be doubled from £3 million to £6 million as Downing Street said it “stands ready to do whatever is necessary to support people” through the downturn.
“The Government is doing everything it can to get those people who have become unemployed back to work as quickly as possible,” said employment minister Tony McNulty.
It came as the jobs of more than 5,000 British Vauxhall workers were in the balance as its parent company, troubled American manufacturer General Motors, is on the brink of collapse.
It is not known whether the US government will step in to rescue it.
Reader views (14)
The number is many millions higher than given out by this Government. The same smoke, mirrors and spin that show crime falling (ha ha) are in use. Lies and deceit are the only thing guaranteed from Labour.
- Roger, Staines, 13/11/2008 06:02
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Real world figures are way higher. Probably over 2 million already. Why do you think the interest rates were slashed 1.5% last week! There are lots of people who are self employed, either temps, contractors or have small businesses and have no work so live on their savings and do not show up until they are forced to claim benefits. The government will know this from their massive drop in income & corporation tax!!
- Paul, London, UK, 12/11/2008 21:29
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I think the worm will turn as we naturally become aware that this government has served us well, our culture, our soldiers, our pensioners and now our right to work.
Well done Gordon
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 12/11/2008 19:59
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I bet these figures dont include former public servents who are now paid not to work. Evening all...
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 12/11/2008 18:55
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What about the 4m people on incapacity benefit?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 12/11/2008 16:49
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After telling the nation 1 Million people unemployed was a tragedy Mrs. Thatcher took the figure up and beyond 3 Million in just a few years. Now that is what you would call a failure.
- Keith Price, Luton, England, 12/11/2008 16:48
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I think the worm will turn as we naturally become angry at how this government has failed us, our culture, our soldiers, our pensioners and now our right to work.
- Richard K, Nottingham, 12/11/2008 14:55
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What about the 2 Million Plus who are on disability allowance benefit?
This 2 Million Plus of "disabled" also include junkies, alcoholics, depressed people etc.
So the true figure is much closer to 5 million.
- P Staker, London, 12/11/2008 14:27
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No more boom and bust!No more boom and bust!No more boom and bust! Ecuation, education education. Half these young people cannot even speak English and were educated under Labour. How on earth can they be employed?
- Frederick, London, UK, 12/11/2008 13:38
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And yet our doors are wide open and 1000 immigrants a day are arriving here in the UK. Somethings gotta give or there is going to be civil unrest on the streets of London. When British workers find themselves unemployed because of cheap foriegn labor; things are going to get ugly.
- Brandon Thomas, London SW7, 12/11/2008 12:59
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There are jobs out there, but people need to be prepared to apply for something different. If I lost my job and couldn't get another admin role, then I may have to look in other sectors, such as retail,etc. Or I would up my game and take advantage of the free training course's available through the DSS.
- Triffidqueen, Desk in London, 12/11/2008 12:35
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I do hope that the majority of this figure are (B)anker's.
- Raymond, London
Banker's what? Secretaries? Assistants? If we have economic problems in this country it is partly because many people are so poorly educated and can't even use their own language properly, let alone other people's.
- Robert C, London, UK, 12/11/2008 12:16
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I do hope that the majority of this figure are (B)anker's.
- Raymond, London, 12/11/2008 11:26
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I would imagine the jobless total is far higher than that, presumably these figures don't include those claiming disability benefits, income support, etc, which was a fiddle brought in by the Tories which Labour have expanded upon. Only once all of the different types of benefit claimants are added up will a true total be achieved.
- Bob, Cheam, 12/11/2008 10:27
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