Unlike the other giant EU economies, the British economy is still in a very healthy shape with low unemploment.
The size of the British workforce is now just over 29 million. In the EU, only Germany has a larger workforce than Britain although Britain's is growing and Germany's is shrinking. It is the biggest total since records began in 1971, and a rise of 180,000 over the past year.
The British also work the longest hours in Europe.
'Record numbers in work'
By ONLINE REPORTER
July 18, 2007
The Sun
A record number of people - 29 million - are now working in Britain, the highest figure since records began. The British workforce, the second-biggest in the EU, has grown 180,000 in the last year alone.
RECORD numbers of people are in work and unemployment has fallen to its lowest for over a year, new figures showed today.
Employment increased by 93,000 in the three months to May to 29.08million, the biggest total since records began in 1971, and a rise of 180,000 over the past year.
Unemployment fell by 35,000 over the same quarter to 1.66million, the lowest for over a year, giving a jobless rate of 5.4 per cent.
The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance was 13,800 down in June at 864,100, the 11th monthly fall in the past year.
The Office for National Statistics also reported that average earnings increased by 3.5 per cent in the year to May, down by 0.6 per cent from the previous month.
But the number of manufacturing jobs continued to fall, down to a record low of 2.96million in the three months to May after a cut of 46,000 compared with a year ago.
And leaders of new super union Unite called on MPs to back their campaign for stronger Government support for manufacturing.
Joint general secretaries Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson said in a letter: “Manufacturing is the backbone of our economy and our heritage but is under real pressure.
“On behalf of those workers and communities that continue to depend on manufacturing for their livelihood, we urgently need Government action to protect and secure the sector."
Work and Pensions Secretary Peter Hain said: “The Government’s policies, including the creation of the New Deal, mean we have one of the most proactive approaches in the world to getting people off benefits and back into work."
thsun.co.uk
Linear Mode
