Full report on BBC News Online

Official figures due out later are expected to show that unemployment in the UK has risen to more than two million for the first time since 1997.

Analysts predict that the data for November to January will show that the number of people without work rose by more than 150,000 during the period.

UK unemployment totalled 1.97 million during the October to December quarter.

There are now 10 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres, the TUC claimed earlier this week.

I am feeling their pain  :(

I am feeling their pain   :(
You can count me in that number.

UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown.

During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totalled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

For February, the number of people getting jobseeker's allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million.

I'm curious as to what percentage these raw numbers represent, and as to how unemployment is defined in the UK.  Here in the US, only those seeking jobs are "unemployed", so the vast number of discouraged workers, who have given up looking or collecting bennies are not counted.  Some estimate that this number doubles the official unemployment rate. Catastrophic.

I'm curious as to what percentage these raw numbers represent, and as to how unemployment is defined in the UK.  Here in the US, only those seeking jobs are "unemployed", so the vast number of discouraged workers, who have given up looking or collecting bennies are not counted.  Some estimate that this number doubles the official unemployment rate. Catastrophic.


If you do not appear to be actively seeking work then you can not claim benefits.

I'm curious as to what percentage these raw numbers represent, and as to how unemployment is defined in the UK.  Here in the US, only those seeking jobs are "unemployed", so the vast number of discouraged workers, who have given up looking or collecting bennies are not counted.  Some estimate that this number doubles the official unemployment rate. Catastrophic.


In order to accurately assess prior years one must remember that during the Reagan administration people in the military were, for the first time, counted as among the employed.  Before that they were not in the equation, so by adding them there appeared to be a jump in the employed figures.  Another reaganomics two-timing, underhanded, republican ploy.

Also you need to think about the relative population sizes.  Two million unemployed throughout the whole of the US is nothing. But in the UK it's something like 6% of the working population.

Also you need to think about the relative population sizes.  Two million unemployed throughout the whole of the US is nothing. But in the UK it's something like 6% of the working population.
 

The "official" count doesn't tell the whole story.  It only counts people who are receiving unemployment benefits.  With the federal extensions people can run out of those benefits in about a year, after that they aren't counted, even if they haven't found work.  It is a sly ploy. We are figured, unofficially, to be at about 8 percent and climbing.  The people who have found work are working longer hours for less money, and fewer benefits than they made before.

 

The "official" count doesn't tell the whole story.  It only counts people who are receiving unemployment benefits.  With the federal extensions people can run out of those benefits in about a year, after that they aren't counted, even if they haven't found work.  It is a sly ploy. We are figured, unofficially, to be at about 8 percent and climbing.  The people who have found work are working longer hours for less money, and fewer benefits than they made before.


Which is what always happens in a recession...and what always happens during an expansion.  Go figure.

In order to accurately assess prior years one must remember that during the Reagan administration people in the military were, for the first time, counted as among the employed.  Before that they were not in the equation, so by adding them there appeared to be a jump in the employed figures.  Another reaganomics two-timing, underhanded, republican ploy.


Why would you not count somebody who has a productive, wage-paying job in the military as being "unemployed"?  Quite a few people have made the military a fine career.  It's not like they are working for free.

Besides, if counting them was "underhanded" then I would have expected the Clinton Administration (you know, the NAFTA Administration, the Don't Ask Don't Tell Administration, the Welfare Reform Administration, the Let's Periodically Bomb Baghdad Administration) to have stopped the practice.  Likewise the O'bama administration can similarly reverse the decision and stop counting the military as the employed.

Why would you not count somebody who has a productive, wage-paying job in the military as being "unemployed"?  Quite a few people have made the military a fine career.  It's not like they are working for free.

Besides, if counting them was "underhanded" then I would have expected the Clinton Administration (you know, the NAFTA Administration, the Don't Ask Don't Tell Administration, the Welfare Reform Administration, the Let's Periodically Bomb Baghdad Administration) to have stopped the practice.  Likewise the O'bama administration can similarly reverse the decision and stop counting the military as the employed.


The point is that when the Reagan Administration decided that they would count the military as actively employed it was only to use as a way of pretending that the employment situation had improved.  In one stroke of a pen the percentage of employed people grew and they patted themselves on the back for improving the unemployment figures. 

People in the military should have been figured under 'employed' from the get go if you ask me.

Anyone seen this yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

Daniel Hannan, MEP ripping Gordon Brown a new one...

Anyone seen this yet?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

Daniel Hannan, MEP ripping Gordon Brown a new one...


WOWEE!!!!

I wish he was here during the bush administration.  We could have used him.