Unemployment increased by 22,000 leaving 1.36million Britons out of work in three months before coronavirus hit
Unemployment increased by 22,000 to 1.36 million in the three months to February, before the coronavirus pandemic gripped the UK, official figures showed.
David Freeman, ONS head of labour market statistics, said: ‘Our final data wholly from before the coronavirus restrictions were in place showed the labour market was very robust in the three months to February.
‘For the first time, we have brought forward information on the number of employees in work using PAYE data to cover a more recent period.
A sign outside the Department of Work and Pensions in Central London (file picture)
‘These experimental statistics show a softening picture in March, but cover the month as a whole, including the period before the coronavirus restrictions were in place.’
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