No 201: Slight fall in unemployment (of one type)

UK unemployment (labour force survey measure) has fallen by 36,000 to 2,46 million.

 
  This is over the 1st quarter of 2011. The percentage rate of unemployment is now 7.7%, down from the previous figure of 7.8%.

However, the rate of unemployment among 16-24 year olds is still very high - 20%.

Also, there was a rise in the Claimant count by 12,400 in April up to 1.47 million. This is explained by a movement of people from economically inactive categories such as those on sickness benefit and income support, on to unemployment benefit.