Jobless zoomed towards two million last year

According to recently released figures the spate of job losses across the UK has sent the number of jobless soaring towards breaking the two million mark. Job losses have occurred in a wide range of industries, including the financial sector and the retail sector, with a number of major retailers having gone into administration over recent weeks, causing thousands of jobs to be lost.

In the three months to November the number of people without a job soared by 131,000, taking the number of unemployed to 1.92 million, which is the highest it has been for over ten years. It is thought that the two million barrier will have been broken when more up to date figures are released next month, as a result of further job losses that have taken place since the start of the year.

Employment Minister. Tony McNulty stated recently: ‘The Government is doing all it can to ensure economic stability for businesses, homeowners and jobseekers. Our message to job seekers is clear – we won’t give up on you but you mustn’t give up on looking for work.’

However, Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said: ‘Gordon Brown’s complete failure to prepare Britain for recession means that the UK now faces the highest rise in unemployment in any G7 country. Labour’s astonishing claim this morning that there is light at the end of the tunnel shows how out of touch they are.’