UK unemployment 'relatively high'
Updated on 15 March 2010
Unemployment in the UK is "relatively high" by European Union standards even though the jobless total increased by less than expected in the past year, according to a new report.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) said this country was no better than a "mid-table" performer in the EU unemployment league as well as having a high rate of "hidden" joblessness.
A study of all 27 EU member states showed that male unemployment was high, with only eight other countries having a worse rate.
The UK's economic inactivity total, which the CIPD said showed the number of hidden people out of work, accounted for one in seven of Europe's entire total, said the report.
Only Estonia, Latvia, Italy, Austria and Poland had higher rates, said the report, which was published ahead of new unemployment figures on Wednesday.
Dr John Philpott, the CIPD's chief economic adviser, said: "The UK may draw comfort from having lower measured unemployment than the EU average but in truth we are no better than a mid-table performer in the EU jobless league.
"Taking hidden joblessness into account makes the UK's relative performance look less impressive still, and once again highlights the scale of the macroeconomic and employment policy challenge that awaits us in the next few years."
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