Unemployment in East Anglia rose by 9,000 in the quarter to June, official figures have revealed.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), a total of 146,000 people were unemployed in the region between April and June. The region’s unemployment rate was 4.7pc and saw an increase of 6.6pc during the period.
Nationwide, unemployment increased for the second month in a row, reaching 1.85m.The jobless total went up by 25,000 in the quarter, the first time there have been two consecutive rises for two years.
ONS statistician David Freeman said: “This is now the second consecutive time we’ve reported fewer people in work on the quarter. While it’s too early to conclude that the jobs market is levelling off, these figures certainly strengthen that possibility. Growth in pay, however, remains solid.”
Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said: “Although the Norfolk jobs market remains robust, these figures are disappointing because for the second month in a row we have seen unemployment rise and employment fall.
“Overall, these figures are a timely reminder that the UK recovery is still in need of care and attention and we cannot take any unnecessary risks. With average earnings growth relatively stable and inflationary pressures subdued, it is clear that what British businesses need is a period of stability without any threat of interest rate increases for the time being.”
Other figures showed:
- The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance fell by 4,900 last month to 792,400 following a slight increase in June.
- 31m people in work in the latest quarter, 63,000 fewer than the three months to March, but 354,000 more than a year ago.
- A record 14.5m women are in work, while employment for men slumped by 71,000 to just under 16.5m compared with the previous quarter.
- Average earnings increased by 2.4pc in the year to June, down by 0.8pc on the previous month, but still ahead of inflation.
- The number of UK nationals in work between April and June increased by 84,000 compared with a year ago to 27.7m. The total for non-UK nationals increased by 257,000 to 3.1m.
- The number of people classed as economically inactive, including those on long-term sick leave or who have given up looking for work, has increased by 7,000 to just under nine million.
The Government pointed out there were nearly two million more people in work than in 2010, with almost half a million more jobs in the private sector over the last year.
Unemployment has fallen by 221,000 in the last year, and long-term unemployment has been cut by more than 210,000 since 2010
