Unemployment

This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on unemployment and the labour market. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.

Standard Notes

DateDescription
31.07.2013Youth Contract
The Youth Contract was launched in April 2012 and combines existing schemes with new ones, all of which seek to support young people into sustainable employment.
17.07.2013Unemployment - Regional: Economic Indicators page
Over the period March 2013 to May 2013, the North East had the highest unemployment rate, at 10.4% of the economically active population. The lowest rate over the same period was 5.8% in the South West.
17.07.2013Unemployment - National: Economic Indicators page
ILO unemployment in March 2013 - May 2013 was 2.51 million (7.8% of all economically active) - down 57,000 from the previous quarter. (UK, seasonally adjusted).
17.07.2013Youth unemployment statistics
959,000 young people aged 16-24 were unemployed in March to May 2013, down 20,000 on the previous quarter and down 59,000 on the previous year.
09.07.2013Unemployment - International Comparisons: Economic Indicators page
This page provides harmonised unemployment rates for major international economies.

Research Papers

DateDescription
17.07.2013Unemployment by Constituency, July 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
12.06.2013Unemployment by Constituency June 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics
15.05.2013Unemployment by Constituency May 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
17.04.2013Unemployment by Constituency, April 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.
20.03.2013Unemployment by Constituency, March 2013
This paper contains labour market figures for parliamentary constituencies, as well as a summary of the latest national and regional statistics.

Select Committee Reports

DateDescription
13.12.2010Youth unemployment and the Future Jobs Fund.
Work and Pensions Select Committee report [Commons]
21.07.2010Young people not in education, employment or training.
Government response. Education Select Committee report [Commons]
24.03.2010Young people not in education, employment or training.
Children Schools and Families Select Committee report [Commons]

Early Day Motions

DateDescription
16.03.2011YOUTH MARCH FOR JOBS
That this House expresses its support for the young people who are taking part in the March for Jobs which, in order to draw attention to the high level of youth unemployment, is retracing ...
19.01.2011HOUSING BENEFIT AND LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT
That this House notes that the Office of Budget Responsibility forecasts 1.36 million people will be claiming jobseeker's allowance at the start of 2013; further notes that in areas ...
15.09.2010NACRO'S CHANGE THE RECORD CAMPAIGN
That this House supports Nacro's Change the Record Campaign to give reformed offenders a fair chance of finding work, by reforming the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and decreasing ...
22.07.2010LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYED
That this House recognises the challenges of ensuring that the long-term unemployed participate in society; remembers with fondness the community programme as a scheme which enabled ...
22.06.2010JARVIS AND RAIL ENGINEERING JOBS
That this House notes that on 31 March 2010 1,200 Jarvis rail workers were sacked after the company went into administration and Network Rail refused to back a rescue plan; is appalled ...

Glossary

  • Research Papers (RP) - briefings produced by the House of Commons Library on Bills, topical issues and regular statistics
  • Standard Notes (SN) - shorter, topical briefings from the Commons Library
  • Early Day Motions (EDMs) - formal motions submitted by MPs in the House of Commons
  • POST Notes - short briefing notes produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
  • Lords Library Notes (LLN) - papers compiled by the House of Lords Library on Bills and for debates in the Lords