in thinking the unemployment figures are not accurate?

[justtoomessy]

We keep hearing how unemployment figures are falling however, there is a rise in food banks, job losses etc. Surely these figures must be being fudged but why? Its not helping out economy in anyway is it? Forgive me for being daft about this but I'm just puzzled.

Sorry missed the bit where you mentioned BoE op

Have a look for some of the things they've said the past couple of days since the unemployment stats were announced. For now, at least, they don't trust the figures anymore than we do.

*excuse fat fingers...

'There are facts, then there are statistics, then there are damn lies' 25 years working as a civil servant compiling these very statistics - they are not worth wiping your bum with.

Farrowandbawl I don't mean that they are trying to cheat the system in any way, just that in the absence of paid employment, they are trying to use their skills to find work for themselves rather than relying on finding a 'job'. The government stats then count them as 'employed' even if they have only registered on the off-chance that they will be able to make some money from their skills or hobby.

Ah...I wasn't suggesting they were fiddling the figures either.

I did read in the paper today that mirrors your post exactly. They are doing this as an "if and when I get bits of work". Which is fair enough.

Job security is another huge reason I think too.

For those who are unlucky enough to be made redundant and have a mortgage - temporary and zero contract hours are not something that you would be looking at when you risk loosing the roof over your head. At least staying on benefits (what little you get) is a regular income as it were. It's more reliable than a job that may or may not need you this week or next.