Meridian Unemployment News

Youth unemployment up 11,000, while overall unemployment is down. Tough on the young.

• Business
• unemployment
• Economy

Unemployment fell by 14,000 between October and December to 2.5 million, official figures showed today.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance last month fell by 12,500 to 1.54 million, said the Office for National Statistics.

Read more unemployment news and see previous figures here.

Average earnings increased by 1.4% in the year to December, 0.1% down on the previous month.

• UK
• Economy
• Jobs

A college in Kent has signed up to a new scheme to help people off get off benefits and back to work.

K college is targeting what some say could become the 'lost generation', as long term youth unemployment continues to rise.

The institution will offer courses to long-term unemployed young people, in association with the Royal British Legion which works with people who have been unable to find a job for more than a year. Sarah Saunders reports.

• Education
• K College
• The Royal British Legion

VIDEO: The latest figures reveal another reduction in the number of people looking for work. But for young people the news is not quite so good - with one in five still struggling to find jobs. Over the last 12 months Reshma Rumsey has been following a group of young jobseekers.

• Business
• jobseekers
• unemployment

Unemployment is rising in the South East despite falling in the rest of the country.

Six thousand more people were out of work in the three months leading to September, than during the last quarter.

The Government says the road ahead will be hard but overall in the region figures for the young unemployed are improving, slowly but steadily.

Sarah Saunders went along to a new mechanics workshop in Paddock Wood staffed by apprentices to ask whether green shoots for the economy are starting with the young.

She spoke to apprentice George Burman, charity director Richard Mayhew and businesswoman Nikki King.

• UK
• apprenticeships
• unemployment

VIDEO: The Employment Minister, Mark Hoban MP, says there has been a slight fall in unemployment in the South East. Figures show the unemployment rate is now 6.3 per cent.

• Business
• unemployment
• jobless

A new report published today says that high unemployment levels in the South's seaside towns are blighting the region's economy. The study published by the Sheffield Hallam University claims that the number of people out of work is higher than official figures suggest.

Researchers found that outside of London, 16 of the 21 districts with the highest unemployment in Southern England are located along the coast.

The new report, from the Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research (CRESR), estimates that the real rate of unemployment in Hastings is more than 13 per cent; in Thanet more than 12 per cent, and in Southend 10 per cent.

• Money
• Unemployment
• seaside

British Gas has released this statement after news confirming it is to close its Southampton office, and the 500 staff positions within.

British Gas has today confirmed its decision to close its Southampton contact centre by the end of 2012, following a 90 day consultation period at the site.

"The business will continue to work had to support all those impacted by this decision and continues to investigate redeployment and alternative employment opportunities."

• UK
• British Gas
• Southampton

British Gas has confirmed that its Southampton office is to close.

Around 500 people will lose their jobs when the call centre at St Mary's Road closes at the end of the year.

It comes after a 90 day consultation.

• UK
• British Gas
• Southampton