TUC pessimistic about jobs market

The TUC has warned that conditions in the jobs market are likely to remain challenging for some time.

According to the Office for National Statistics, unemployment rose to 2.5 million during the three months to October 2010.

This increase of 35,000 means the unemployment rate has gone up to 7.9 per cent.

The TUC described the figures as “grim”, especially as the monthly increase in October was the biggest in over a year.

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Brendan Barber, general secretary of the group, said this means the outlook for jobs in the next few years looks “increasingly bleak”.

“The big fall in full-time employment is particularly alarming as these are the kind of jobs we so desperately need to get our economy growing again,” he commented.

Employment minister Chris Grayling added that the figures show how important it is for the government to take steps to keep the economy moving.

This, he stated, would help to create a stable environment in which jobs can be created and businesses can flourish.

Posted by Cameron Thomson