Unemployment rises to 17-year high of 2.68m

[Jazzy]

Britain's economic recovery faced a further setback today as unemployment rose more than expected and the number of people working part-time because they could not find full-time jobs reached a record high, figures showed.



Unemployment rose by 118,000 between September and November to 2.68m - a 17-year high - taking the unemployment rate to 8.4pc, up 0.3pc on the quarter and more than analysts' forecast of 8.3pc.



However, the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance last month increased by 1,200 to 1.6m, much less than the 10,000 increase expected, the figures showed.



In a sign that the labour market is deteriorating further, the number of Britons who are underemployed - working part-time because they cannot find full-time work - has jumped by 44,000 on the quarter to reach 1.31m - the highest figure since records began in 1992.



The number of people temping because they could not find a full-time job also rose by 10,000 on the quarter to 590,000, accounting for more than a third of the total number of temporary workers, the figures showed.



Britain's young people are among the worst hit; youth unemployment surged further by 52,000 to reach 1.04m, or 22.3pc of 16 to 24 year-olds. The figure includes 313,000 people in full-time education looking for work, and is the highest since comparable records began in 1992.



Full article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9022111/Unemployment-rises-to-17-year-high-of-2.68m.html



Two questions:

1. Since I am from the US, can someone please tell me what Jobseeker's Allowance is?



2. Are any of you trying to find work and can't find a job?

 

[Evil Eye]

1.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is a United Kingdom benefit, colloquially known as the dole (or, in Northern Ireland & Scotland, as broo).[sup][1][/sup] It is a form of unemployment benefit paid by the government to people who are unemployed and seeking work. It is part of the social security benefits system and is intended to cover living expenses while the claimant is out of work. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in England, Wales, and Scotland, and in Northern Ireland by the Social Security Agency - an executive agency of the Department for Social Development. It is a working age benefit, and is generally available only to those aged 18–60 (the exact maximum age for claiming the allowance is linked to the rise in State Pension age).[sup][2][/sup] Jobseeker's Allowance is likely to be replaced by the Universal Credit during the current parliament. There are two forms of Jobseeker's Allowance, contribution-based and income-based.

http://en.wikipedia....r%27s_Allowance



2. No.