subject: Contractor Accountants Welcome Fall In Unemployment [print this page] Specialist Accountants for Contractors Danbro has welcomed news that the overall rate of unemployment fell during September.
The latest labour market figures presented a slightly mixed picture with the unemployment rate standing at 2.45million, or 7.7 per cent, down by 20,000 on the previous quarter. However, the number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance rose slightly, to 1.47million.
Total employment for those aged 16 and over was 29.16million, also an increase on the previous quarter, although the figure remains below pre-recession levels.
The quarterly increase in employment can once again largely be attributed to an increase in the number of part-time jobs, with private sector employers increasingly looking to maximise the flexibility of their workforce as they begin to recruit again.
Danbro partner Damian Broughton said: While there is still a long way to go, it is good to see that the UK employment market is continuing to slowly move in the right direction.
With public sector job cuts likely to take effect over the coming years, it is important that private firms are able to step in and fill the gap.
While some firms are understandably cautious about taking on full-time workers, employing new staff on a part-time or freelance basis allows both sides to see how things go, and Im sure freelance and contract workers will continue to play a big role over the coming years.
