Unemployment reaches 14-year high

Posted 12/08/2009

More than 2.4 million people in the UK are now out of work – the highest figure in 14 years.

This means the overall unemployment rate across the country now stands at 7.8 per cent, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The publication of the figures has prompted renewed calls for the government to help lift the threat of redundancy and stimulate the job market.

Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vince Cable commented: “Ministers must be more active in job creation schemes to ensure that we don’t lose a generation to long term unemployment.”

He said the continued threat of mass unemployment and deflation means the road to an economic recovery is likely to be long.

Dave Prentis, general secretary of Unison, added that the government should come up with plans to help under-25s in particular find work in the public sector.

He also urged company bosses to do whatever can be done to create more jobs, as this would help to give people hope for the future.