To wonder why unemployment is falling?

[wetaugust]

When shops around here are closing and some of the big chains were virtually empty last weekend?

Where are all these jobs coming from?

Don't know but think it is part time rather than full time jobs that are affecting the figures.

Do zero hour contracts count as part time?

Is unemployment itself actually falling or just the amount of people claiming JSA?

I always think it's the number of people claiming JSA that reduces, not actual unemployment

Well, people not being unemployed, but sahms, for example, would not form part of that statistics. Neither people in other "schemes", I would imagine.

once your on the work programme you still get your jsa and go on work programme courses etc but you come of the figure

everybody after a year unemployed has to do this or you get sanctioned

also some on esa have to attend these programmes so not sure if they come of the figures

basically its all a big fat lie

When people are given benefit sanctions they aren't in receipt of benefit for that time so don't count in the unemployment figures. More people sanctioned, more the unemployment figure falls.

There have always been SAHM. I'm wondering if there are real demographic changes behind this or whether it is lies.

That's what I personally suspect too Noisy.

I think it's lots of insecure and/ or part time work. So even if people have jobs, they are scared they won't have a job next year, so are still not spending, therefore having a knock on effect on the retail industry. Also, costs have gone up, so people have less disposable income

i cant in all conscience believe these figures.

unless there is a huge north south divide. (oh. there is.....)

my dsis is very highly qualified - she was a teacher, then ran her own business for 25 years, and now is qualified as an accountant.
she cannot get work for love nor money.

the irony is that 2 of the job centre staff got laid off where she goes and they cant get work either.....

I think they take into account three months too, so all the Christmas temps and casual staff who are now unemployed again will be included in that figure.

I think there are probably more part time workers than there used to be.

The statistic that bugs me is the one about private sector jobs, as if the government have achieved something there. But it's not really surprising that there are more private sector jobs when so much that used to be covered by the public sector is now being taken over by companies like G4S.

zero hour contracts and benefit sanctions. Oh yes.

Unemployment's not falling in every part of the uk.

It's risen where I live, according to the local news on the radio.

64 applicants for a science job needing GCSEs and paying just above NMW here.

What the others have said - massaging figures - more people in insecure part time work, zero hours contracts etc. People take whatever they can get, even if it's not actually enough to keep them going. I have a friend who has been offered 45 minutes work each morning, a care-type job helping a boy with physical disabilities get ready for school. Half the time she gets there and the parents say she isn't needed, so she doesn't get paid, so she probably has a total of 2-3 hours work a week. Clearly not enough to live on but technically she is employed

Makes me really

people being sanctioned out of the stats - also people not claiming - I spend a lot of time trying to get my 18 year old active job seekers to sign on - they see it as shameful

like i said even if your NOT sanctioned and recieving JSA and are on the work programme YOU come of the figures

thats how they do it op

Been watching the news and wondering the same

My job prospects remain very bleak as do my DH's so news like this just doesn't feel real to me.

Even if the figures are skewed, it's the news the Tories have been after since they came to power and many out there will believe them.

If you look at the regional breakdown you will see this is not the case across the whole of the UK. A strong resurgence in the SE & London hides rises in areas such as the NE.

Some of these figures are also set to get worse with one NE council announcing more massive cuts and job losses today.

If you want to see the full Office for National Statistics breakdown it's here
Lots of figures and somewhat depressing in places.

Looked at Wonkylegs regional breakdown and unemployment has gone UP 15,000 in my area

I rest my case.