Rise in unemployment at lowest rate since May 2008

The Office for National Statistics figures for the three months to September show that unemployment, on the Government’s preferred measure that includes all jobseekers, rose by 30,000 to 2.46 million, the smallest quarterly rise since the three months to May 2008.

The data also showed that the jobseeker’s allowance claimant count rose by just 12,900 in October to 1.64 million - the highest rate since April 1997 but the smallest monthly increase since April 2008 and down from the 20,800 rise over September.

Youth unemployment rose by 15,000 over the quarter to 943,000, but this was down 3,000 on the figure reported last month.

Ministers said the figures showed that sharp rises in unemployment over the past year were now beginning to tail off.

Work and pensions secretary Yvette Copper said: "The fact that unemployment is significantly lower than everyone forecast at the beginning of the year shows the support for the economy is making a real difference."

The figures are available here.