Jobless figures - Competitive edge must be restored

The July rise in the jobless rate to 185,477, is up by 4.3%, which is not as high as the 4.8% increase in July of last year, but it still amounts to a worrying trend. Seasonally adjusted the rise was 1.3%.

On the more positive side, there was a further drop in the rate at which joblessness is rising.

This time last year the rise in unemployment for the previous 12 months was 17%, whereas it is down to 7.8% in the year since then.