UK unemployment rises to highest level since 1995

The unemployment rate was 7.8% for the three months to June 2009, up 0.7% over the previous quarter and 2.4% over the year. Vacancy levels have also fallen while the number of unemployed people, the unemployment rate and the claimant count have all increased. Growth in average earnings, excluding bonuses, has fallen but earnings growth including bonuses has increased. The employment rate for people of working age was 72.7% for the three months to June 2009, down 0.9% from the previous quarter and 2% lower over the year. Meanwhile, the total number of people in employment for the...