Recession tracker

15th December 2009

Unemployment in the UK is now 2. 46 million, with the jobless rate at 7. 8%, slightly lower than last month when it hit the highest level since mid-1995.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefit rose by 12,900 in October to 1. 64 million - the highest total since April 1997. But the increase was the smallest since April 2008.

The employment rate for people of working age was 72. 5% for the three months to October 2009. There was a small rise in people in employment, up 6,000, the first quarterly increase since May-July 2008.

But youth unemployment hit 18%, the highest figure for 18-24-year-olds since records began in this series in 1992.

The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work rose to 943,000 in September. Maps illustrating how the numbers of young people looking for work have risen can be seen here.

While some economists believe there are signs the UK economy is growing again, others forecast unemployment will still reach a figure of three million in 2010.

Source: BBC News - Special Reports UK