The unemployment rate for the UK has risen to 7.9% nationally, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics today.

The figures related to the three months to June 2011 and are up 0.1% on the previous quarter.

People saying they are being forced to work part-time is now the highest number since records began.

The unemployment figures hit women harder (21,000 out of the 38,000) – reaching 1.05 million, the highest figure since the three months to May 1988.

Given women’s participation rate in the labour market, an equitable rise would have been just 17,500.

Also in summary:
- The total number of unemployed people increased by 38,000 over the quarter to reach 2.49 million.

- The number of people unemployed for up to six months increased by 66,000 over the quarter to reach 1.23 million. This is the largest quarterly increase in this series since the three months to June 2009.

- The number of unemployed men increased by 18,000 on the quarter to reach 1.45 million.

Tony Dolphin, chief Economist at IPPR says:

Weakness in the labour market is also a reflection of a lack of growth in demand in the private sector caused by higher food and energy prices, slackening overseas demand and the rapid tightening of fiscal policy. Surveys show that this has led to cutbacks in output expectations and employment intentions among companies across the economy.

This lack of demand could be countered by a temporary tax cut or a boost to government capital spending accompanied by an increase in quantitative easing. Contrary to the assertion in yesterday’s letter from the Chancellor to the Governor of the Bank of England, there is no reason to believe a less strict fiscal tightening this year will necessarily lead to monetary tightening.

IPPR analysis shows public sector job cuts and changes to the child element of the Working Tax Credit in the Budget are primarily to blame.

The ONS has also released this video explaining the recent figures

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/Ua7EW9F

2. Legal Aware

   Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/Ua7EW9F

3. Karen

   Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/Ua7EW9F

4. sunny hundal

   Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

5. azumah

   Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

6. milian

   Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

7. Chris Paul

   Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/Ua7EW9F

8. Lianne

   Unemployment rises again – more forced into part-time work, and women worse off http://t.co/j1fSpk4 via @libcon

9. janeholgate

   Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

10. Andy S

    Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/GaNxCVb (via @libcon) < women are being punished all ways round in Tory Britain…again.

11. Sam

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

12. Georgia Rose Butler

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

13. Shaheena Salahuddin

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

14. MarinaS

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

15. Clara Boxall

    Unemployment rises; affects women more http://t.co/GaNxCVb (via @libcon) < women are being punished all ways round in Tory Britain…again.

16. Pie

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

17. sunny hundal

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

18. Fazey Pie

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

19. Becky Wright

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

20. tomhenri

    @Bancarino as we always suspected women were going to bear the brunt of the gov's crap economic policies http://t.co/5yMK2Mv

21. Martin Hearson

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

22. Sona Chavda

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

23. Warren O'Keefe

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

24. Omolade

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

25. Emily Bishop

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

26. Christopher Meredith

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

27. Ceehaitch

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

28. Tara B

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

29. Dr Fiona Bloomer

    Of 38k rise in unemployed announced today, 21k are women. Given participation in labour mkt it shld have been just 17.5k http://t.co/1v4sPL3

30. clare batten

    Today's figures also show that unemployment amongst women now at 1.05m, highest since 1988 http://t.co/1v4sPL3

31. Where are the modern-day Suffragettes against the cuts? | TRAITS OF THE RICH

    [...] business pages of newspapers this week was a big one: the number of unemployed women in the UK is now the highest since 1988. This is business alright. This should be EVERYONE’S business, and ought to inspire shame, [...]

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