UK unemployment figures have risen again but the rate appears to be slowing down.

The UK unemployment rate appears to be slowing down, despite the number of unemployed people rising again in the three months to September 2009.

According to the latest figures released today (11 November) from the Office for National Statistics, UK unemployment reached 2.46 million in September and the jobless rate remained at 7.8%.

30,000 people in the UK lost their jobs during the quarter – the smallest increase since May 2008. The official figures are better than predicted and potentially indicate a recovery in the economy.

Simultaneously the number of people in employment increased during the quarter by 6,000 to 29 million.

David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said: “The increase in employment over the last three months highlights the benefits of Britain’s flexible labour market – with firms and workers agreeing measures that have preserved, and even increased, jobs in the economy.

“There’s no doubt that unemployment will rise further in 2010, but there’s no doubt that unemployment will rise further in 2010, but there’s hope that it will peak somewhat below the 3 million mark.”

Paul Kenny, GMB General Secretary, took a different stance on the official figures: “These figures show what a dismally bleak landscape there is for the jobless and their families as Christmas approaches, particularly for the young workers struggling to get into the labour market.”

Youth unemployment rose again between July and September 2009, taking the unemployment rate for 18 to 24-year-olds to a record high of 19.8%.

The number of people claiming Job Seeker’s Allowance has increased by 12,900 in the three months to September. The total number of unemployment benefit claimants has now reached 1.64 million.

The ONS figures also show that the number of people unemployed for more than 12 months increased by 71,000 over the quarter, now reaching 618,000 – the highest number for 12 years.

Job vacancies also continue to fall, with only 428,000 positions in the three months to October 2009. However, the number of vacancies was only 1,000 lower than the figure for the previous quarter.