UK unemployment rate rises to 5.1% in latest ONS data – latest

The Work and Pensions Secretary said figures showing the unemployment rate was at its highest level in nearly five years reflected the “scale of the challenge” Labor had inherited.

Pat McFadden said: “More than 350,000 people are in work this year and the inactivity rate is at its lowest level in five years, but today’s figures underline the scale of the challenge we are inheriting.

“That’s why we’re investing £1.5bn to deliver 50,000 apprenticeships and 350,000 new workplace opportunities for young people, giving them real experience and a foot in the door.

“To go even further and tackle the deep-rooted problems of our labor market, Alan Milburn is also leading an inquiry into all the problems associated with young people’s inactivity and work.”

The ONS chief said the latest unemployment figures were evidence that the labor market was “weakening”.

After the latest figures were released on Tuesday morning, ONS director of economic statistics Liz McKeown said: “The overall picture remains that the labor market is weakening.

“While firms have told us there are fewer jobs recently, the number of employees on payroll has fallen again, reflecting weak hiring activity.

“This weakness was also reflected in the increase in the unemployment rate, while vacancies remained generally stable.

“The decline in payroll numbers and the increase in unemployment were particularly evident in some younger age groups.”

The Office for National Statistics said average regular earnings growth in the UK fell to 4.6 per cent in the three months to October and was 0.9 per cent higher when Consumer Price Index inflation was taken into account.

The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate in England rose from 5 percent in September to 5.1 percent in the three months to October.