Manufacturing job numbers fall again as unemployment grows
The number of people working in the UK manufacturing sector has continued to fall according to new labour statistics published today (15 July).
The Office for National Statistics reported there were 2.89 million employee jobs in manufacturing industries in the three months to May 2008, down 36,000 on the same period a year earlier.
The anxiously awaited figures for unemployment across the wider economy showed the number of unemployed people increasing by 12,000 over the quarter bringing the total in the three months to May to 1.62 million.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefit was 840,100, up 15,500 from the previous month while the number of job vacancies was 655,100, down 32,200 from the previous quarter.
However, the number of people in employment increased by 61,000 over the quarter taking the total in full-time employment to 22.09 million.
