UK unemployment falls for second month in a row

The number of people unemployed in the UK has fallen slightly, figures show.

Total unemployment stood at 2.46 million for the three months to December, down 3,000 on the figure for the previous three months.

But long-term unemployment, covering those out of work for more than a year, rose by 37,000 to 663,000, the highest figure since 1997.

And the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance climbed by 23,500 to 1.64 million in January.

‘Tough times’

That was the largest increase since July last year – with analysts having expected the number of claimants to fall by about 10,000.

The rate of unemployment was unchanged at 7.8%, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

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