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Press Releases > Comment on the latest labour market statistics

Comment on labour market statistics

Wednesday, 17 February 2010

Christine George

More needs to be done for older workers, says The Work Foundation

Commenting on today’s labour market statistics, Ian Brinkley, associate director at The Work Foundation, said:  
"The labour market is showing mixed messages.  On one measure unemployment is down and on the other it is up.  But beneath the big picture, we are seeing the first signs of long-term unemployment amongst older claimants emerging as a serious problem.

 "The claimant count measure shows a worrying increase in unemployment in January, up by just over 23,000 on the previous month. This is the first monthly rise since July. The main reason is not that more people are becoming unemployed and claiming benefit, but that fewer of those claiming are moving off benefits.

 "The main driver is an increase in long-term unemployment (conventionally defined as out of work for more than 12 months) for adult workers.  Long-term claimant unemployment is rising for all age groups, but is affecting older workers much more than younger workers. In January about 4% of claimants under 25 were unemployed for more than 12 months, but the share for "prime age"  claimants between 25 and 49  the share was 18% and the share of claimants over 50 who had been out of work for more than 12 months was 21%.

 "The government can still claim some credit for limiting the rise in long term unemployment for young claimants, but there is clearly a more serious problem developing for adult workers. The government would do well to concentrate on what more can be done for older workers to prevent even more falling into long-term unemployment given the current weakness in the labour market."

 Ends 

Notes to editors:   

 
  1. Ian Brinkley is available for briefings and researcher Charles Levy is available for interviews.  
     
  2. The Work Foundation is the leading independent authority on work and its future. It aims to improve the quality of working life and the effectiveness of organisations by equipping leaders, policymakers and opinion-formers with evidence, advice, new thinking and networks. www.theworkfoundation.com  

 

 Media enquiries:  

Christine George, 020 7976 3554 or 07711 168169  cgeorge@theworkfoundation.com