Older unemployment is still rising

The percentage of people aged 50 to 64 who are out of work now stands at 33.8% (3.96 million), compared with 19.7% for the under 50s, if we exclude full-time students. Today’s report from the ONS, the Labour Market Statistical Bulletin for July 2011, shows that unemployment for people aged 50 to 64 in the UK increased by 2,000 on the previous quarter, compared with a fall of 28,000 for the under 50s.

Change in number of unemployed since the start of the recession

Since the start of the recession, the number of unemployed people over the age of 50 has increased by 53.5%, compared with 37.3% for those aged 18 to 49, according to the most recently available figures. So older people are suffering like everybody else – but worse on almost all measures.

Percentage of the unemployed who have been out of work for over 12 months

Over 50s continue to represent a disproportionately large, and growing, segment of the long-term unemployed.  43% of unemployed over 50s have been out of work for more than 12 months, compared with 38% of people aged 25 to 49, and 25% of those aged 18 to 24. The chart shows how long-term unemployment has grown since June 2009.

More information

• ONS Labour Market Statistical Bulletin for July 2011 (PDF)
• ONS video podcast on the general picture in the labour market, July 2011
• On the plus side the TUC points out that there are more older people in the labour market, and more working than ever before

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