Unemployment ‘likely to get worse’

A LEADING economist has warned the high unemployment rate is likely to get worse before it gets better, as the latest figures show yet another large increase in the number of people claiming the dole.

The seasonal adjusted total on the live register now stands at 448,600, 3,700 more than in November 2010 and 1,700 more than last month. The unemployment rate now stands at 14.5% — 0.1% higher than last month.

An analysis of the live register figures shows the number of female dole claimants has increased by 8,267 to 153,041 over the last year while the number of male claimants has decreased by 3,702 to 276,526.