What are the real unemployment figures?

[Ryoko]

uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/employment-rising-not-down-job-101406627.html

Nothing more to said really just one smoke screen after another and endless blame on the mostly mythical happy to be unemployed for life scrounger.

And they NEVER include all the people on workfare either.

Very true plus us stay at home mums, I don't understand their determination to push us back into work when we are not claiming JSA so don't even count on the figures?.

Don't get me wrong I would love to be able to go back to work (free nursery places and all that) but at the end of the day I'm a kept woman and there are people far more in need of work then me.

Those are the 'real' statistics. The ONS is an independent body, the definition of unemployed hasn't changed and you can drill down into the numbers to see how it breaks down for young people, JSA, income support, long-term etc. A SAHM can very easily be classed as unemployed if they are actively seeking work.

Look at the number of people in employment. This will give a better indicator of the state of play.

In the USA the unemployment number is quoted at around 8% but the Givt also measure another number called U6 Unemployment that includes everyone officially unemployed plus everyone else who is unemployed or underemployed who is not on the offical register. That U6 number is around 17%.

I suspect that in the UK the actual number of people in part time work who want a full time job, in training schemes, internships or who are otherwise not on the official register is also about double the official unempoloyment rate.

I always wonder whether people like me get included in figures. I am unemployed but not on JSA as, frankly, I don't need the money as DP is fortunate enough to earn well for both of us whilst I am searching. I believe benefits should only be taken if you really need them... OTOH I am absolutely no fan of this current govt and would love to be able to count in some way. I feel sure there must be others like me who don't claim but are searching.

I very rarely believe govt figures for anything, although I know ONS is independent. It depends so much on the questions you ask and the sources you use.

TMK (to my knowledge) if you are not on JSA but looking, you are on not on the figures.

The definition of 'unemployed' for ONS is anyone

"1. without a job, have been actively seeking work in the past four weeks and are available to start work in the next two weeks, or

1. out of work, have found a job and are waiting to start it in the next two weeks"

They also measure people who are 'economically inactive' and fall outside this definition. As at May 2012 40,193 m people were aged between16 and 64. Of those 9,207 were economically inactive ... ie. in full-time education or otherwise not working but not actively seeking work. The rate of economic inactivity was 22.9% in May and 23.1% in February... so also coming down.

You should check out the ONS website. Mine of information.