Small increase in unemployment expected

As the recession rumbles on, a rise in the number of people currently unemployed has been predicted.

However, it is expected this quarterly increase in joblessness will be the smallest since spring 2008, with the Office for National Statistics suggesting the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s allowance has fallen.

Furthermore, there has been a rise in the number of available job vacancies over the past three months.

Last quarter, the employment rate remained unchanged at 72.5 per cent and it is believed between October and December this will have risen to some 2.5 million.

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The Press Association reports that given the recession, analysts believe this growth has in fact been subdued.

The Financial Times recently reported HR teams have been doing their best to avoid redundancies during the recession.

Indeed, research by Incomes Data Services revealed 23 per cent of HR departments have increased their workforce, while 42 per cent have maintained their numbers.