UK unemployment falls to 2.5m

In the three months leading up to May, UK unemployment rates fell by ..

In the three months leading up to May, UK unemployment rates fell by 65,000 to a total of 2.58 million new official figures have revealed. 

For the fourth month in a row, joblessness total fell as more jobs were created (especially for those aged over 65). 

Unemployment dropped by 65,000 to 2.58 million in the quarter to May, which marked the lowest for almost a year. Meanwhile employment increased by 181,000 to just shy of 30 million, which the biggest figure for almost four years.

The steady month on month rise suggests that this is no fluke.

However, The Olympics is believed to have played a part as job vacancies soar in the London area for temp work related to the 2012 Games. 

Employment Minister Chris Grayling was quoted as saying: "This is an encouraging set of figures in what is still an incredibly difficult economic climate. Not only is unemployment falling but in overall terms there are now almost 100,000 less people on benefits since the 2010 election. We still have a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction."

It wasn't all good news though. More people are claiming job seeker's allowance and long term unemployment figures are up with those out of work for more than two years up by 18,000 to 441,000, the worst figure since 1997.

In all, the unemployment rate is now 8.1%, which shows a drop by 0.2 percentage points, although the jobless total is 132,000 higher than a year ago.

Figures published by The Independent revealed that unemployment in the regions between March to May was as below:

(The figures read as follows: region; total unemployed; change on quarter; unemployment rate)

• North East 140,000 minus 4,000 10.9%
• North West 331,000 plus 6,000 9.5%
• Yorkshire/Humber 262,000 plus 13,000 9.7%
• East Midlands 193,000 plus 3,000 8.3%
• West Midlands 223,000 minus 18,000 8.4%
• East 209,000 plus 2,000 6.8%
• London 381,000 minus 50,000 8.9%
• South East 288,000 plus 2,000 6.4%
• South West 164,000 minus 5,000 6.1%
• Wales 132,000 minus 2,000 9.0%
• Scotland 220,000 minus 14,000 8.2%
• N Ireland 60,000 plus 5,000 7.1%