Unemployment stats June 2015

Information on images taken from Research Breifing Universal Credit stats are now appearing in research document pdf file. Sadly ONS has stopped producing some of the information as they used to in their easily digestable format. The 18-24 group information now takes more research but the stats are available for all areas for those that are keen to obtain this       The ONS used to produce a video each month however the figures are still available in this picture format. One area that I have noticed is that the area of the NEET group is no longer highlighted   Researched by John FairestAIEP    

The employment rate in the United Kingdom, for the 3 months ending April 2015, was highest in the South West (77.3%) and lowest in Northern Ireland (68.4%). The employment rate estimates are showing a mix of increases and decreases across the regions and countries of the UK.

• The unemployment rate in the United Kingdom, for the 3 months ending April 2015, was highest in the North East (7.4%) and lowest in the South East (4.1%). All regions are showing decreases in the unemployment rate compared with a year ago.

• The inactivity rate in the United Kingdom, for the 3 months ending April 2015, was highest in Northern Ireland (27.0%) and lowest in the South West (19.2%). A year ago, the lowest inactivity rate in the UK was in the South East (19.7%).

• The Claimant Count rate in the United Kingdom, for May 2015, was highest in Northern Ireland (4.8%) and lowest in the South East (1.2%). The Claimant Count for May 2015 compared with April 2015, is showing decreases or no change in the count across all regions of the UK, except the North West, for men, and the North West and Wales, for women.

• The largest increase in workforce jobs, in the United Kingdom, for the 3 month period ending March 2015, was in the West Midlands, at 40,000. The largest decrease was in the South East, at 32,000.

• The highest proportion of workforce jobs in the service sector was in London, at 91.7%, which is a decrease of 0.2 percentage points from the previous quarter. The East Midlands had the highest proportion of jobs in the production sector, at 13.8%, which has increased by 0.2 percentage points from the previous quarter.

• The highest average actual weekly hours worked, for the twelve months ending December 2014, were in London, at 33.6 hours and lowest in the South West, at 31.2 hours. For full time workers, it was highest in London, at 38.3 hours and for part time workers it was highest in Northern Ireland, at 17.8 hours.

Is it ever right to call a Job seeker a "Scrounger"

The Term " Scrounger" has been used by the media. Papers like the Independant have

Iam on benefits but i am no scrounger

I find the phrase "Scrounger" often se
ems to fit in the category of the disabled.
The title featured here clearly is the headline of this article featured on the Money Saving Expert.com

Not everyone on benefits is a scrounger.
is the opening line. But I ask myself why some politicians would promote this concept of Benefit claiments being defined as a Scrounger






This video highlights the issue clearly. You can be working and still be deemed because of your 
income as using the system
However our economy has CHANGED. the existing JSA system was never set up for the Zero hour contract

The Telegraph reported that JustinWelby identified correctly in my view that this phrase was inappropriate.

The Most Rev Justin Welby said that it is important not to use “derogatory terms” when talking about people on benefits.

Although the Archbishop said he could not quote a minister using offensive language about people in poverty, he warned that people on benefits are being categorised as “scroungers”.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the Archbishop said: “We have to be very careful about how we talk about people across the range of those who receive benefits. You can use derogatory terms – it’s just important not to do so.”

Asked whether ministers were using “derogatory” language about poor people the Archbishop said: “I can’t quote any minister of having done so, but I think there is a danger from time to time that people are categorised - that all people on benefits are seen as scroungers - and that is clearly completely unfair and untrue.”

Earlier this year the Archbishop warned that “children and families will pay the price” as a result of the Government’s welfare reforms.

Invariably those claiming or signing on will feel stigmatised by the term. Unlike the Bankers they can lose their money through a Sanction. 

Scrounger headlines

These headlines have regularly featured in the medai over recent years. 

Rarely has the sub heading featured well which states that the system is unfit for purpose. Yet throughout recent years we have seen ATOS and computer systems being deemed as not fit for purpose.

it is becoming clearer that there are very few that are in the " Abuse the system " category. The not prepared to work. There are far more in the "underemployed " category

The Ons produced this

Underemployment and Overemployment in the UK, 2014

• In 2014, just under 1 in 10, or 3.0 million people, employed in the UK wanted to work more hours than they are currently employed to do and are therefore classified as underemployed.
• On average each underemployed worker would like to work an extra 11.3 hours per week.
• Over 1 in 5 people working in elementary occupations were underemployed in 2014.
• In 2014, over 1 in 5 part time workers were underemployed compared with around 1 in 20 of full time workers.
• The North East had the highest percentage of underemployed workers in Great Britain