The
number of people unemployed in the UK fell by 20,000 to 2.45 million in the
three months to August.
This
meant the overall UK unemployment rate fell to 7.7 per cent from 7.8 per cent
the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
However,
the figures also showed the claimant count – those out of work and receiving
unemployment benefit – rose by 5,300 in September to 1.47 million.
Many
economists fear unemployment will rise later in the year when government cuts
begin to kick in.
A
report by accountants PwC predicts that cuts in public sector spending will
have the knock-on effect of about 500,000 job losses in the private sector.
But
Work and Pensions Secretary Chris Grayling said that reducing the deficit
through spending cuts was the only way to secure long-term job opportunities.
Within
the UK, the jobless rate in Wales fell to 8.2 per cent from 9.1 per cent, in
England it dropped to 7.7 per cent from 7.8 per cent and in Northern Ireland it
fell to 7 per cent from 7.1 per cent.
However,
in Scotland, the rate increased from 8.2 per cent to 8.6 per cent.
Across
the UK, the number of people employed increased by 178,000 in the three months
to August, the ONS said.
Unemployment by region
Yorks/Humber:
Up 1,000 to 247,000
Wales:
Down 12,000 to 118,000
Scotland:
Up 13,000 to 231,000
North
West: Down 8,000 to 277,000
South
East: Up 15,000 to 282,000
Northern
Ireland: Unchanged at 58,000
North
East: Down 5,000 to 116,000
East:
Up 4,000 to 203,000
East
Midlands: Up 5,000 to 171,000
London:
Down 6,000 to 377,000
West
Midlands: Down 14,000 to 216,000
South
West: Down 14,000 to 253,000
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