![Labour looks set to smash straight into a jobs problem Labour looks set to smash straight into a jobs problem](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1731473336/articles/Hg3kDqkQn1731481536205/LABOUR-LOOKS-SET-TO-SMASH-STRAIGHT-INTO-A-JOBS-PROBLEM.jpg)
The rate of unemployment among people aged 16 and above rose to 4.3 per cent over the July to September reporting period. The claimant count, this time for October, meanwhile increased to 1.8 million, a rise on the month and on the year.
The number of vacancies between August and October fell by 35,000 to 831,000. That is the 28th – you read that right – consecutive decline. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) always likes to point out that the number of openings “remain above” the pre-Covid level. But a cursory look at the graphs it produces tells us that it won’t be able to say that for much longer.
A note of caution: there have long been worries about the reliability of the agency’s labour force data, to the extent that the Bank of England’s chief economist wrote to the ONS to criticise its failure since last year to produce reliable figures. Liz McKeown, ONS director of economic statistics, warned that some of the smorgasbord of data the agency coughs up regrettably still has to be treated with “caution” because promised improvements are “still feeding through”.
Denne historien er fra November 13, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
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Denne historien er fra November 13, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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![The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UBBtvwzBz1739775276723/THE-BRUTALIST-AND-CONCLAVE-SHARE-MAIN-SPOILS-AT-BAFTAS.jpg)
The Brutalist and Conclave share main spoils at Baftas
Emilia Perez controversy fails to overshadow the event
![Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/eHod1Xbr61739775564939/UKRAINE-AND-EUROPE-FACE-EXCLUSION-FROM-USLED-TALKS.jpg)
Ukraine and Europe face exclusion from US-led talks
A senior White House team is heading to Saudi Arabia ahead of possible peace talks on Ukraine amid consternation that the country is being left out of negotiations over its own future.
!['Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss 'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/v7yDKs7Mi1739775421273/CRYING-LETBY-IS-INNOCENT-CLAIMS-FORMER-NURSING-BOSS.jpg)
'Crying' Letby is innocent, claims former nursing boss
A retired head of nursing at Lucy Letby's hospital has said the convicted killer is innocent, describing meetings with the nurse who \"cried in my arms\".
![Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/yyBgd_Cfg1739774842586/STARMER-PREPARED-TO-SEND-BRITISH-TROOPS-TO-UKRAINE.jpg)
Starmer prepared to send British troops to Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has announced he is willing to put British troops \"in harm's way\" on the ground in Ukraine to face down Vladimir Putin's forces.
![Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/ppb9ztWwL1739775639660/ZELENSKY-TRUSTS-TRUMP-BUT-SAYS-US-MUST-HEAR-UKRAINE.jpg)
Zelensky 'trusts Trump' but says US must ‘hear' Ukraine
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about his recent phone call with Donald Trump and his stance on a possible peace agreement with Russia during an interview on US television yesterday.
!['Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed' 'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/zqNPAG5281739775715367/SOMETHING-IS-DESTROYED-INSIDE-PALESTINIANS-AND-IM-NOT-SURE-IF-IT-CAN-BE-HEALED.jpg)
'Something is destroyed inside Palestinians and I'm not sure if it can be healed'
Amani Ahmed left Gaza as war broke out and was apart from family for months. She tells Alex Croft about life in the UK
!['I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone' 'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/_xyHAX6YL1739775030381/IVE-SPENT-HALF-MY-LIFE-IN-PRISON-FOR-STEALING-A-PHONE.jpg)
'I've spent half my life in prison for stealing a phone'
Leroy Douglas begs for freedom, describing his indefinite term as 'cripplingly cruel' as he nears 20 years behind bars
![FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/9jew7rRZh1739775502116/FBI-TO-HELP-FIND-SOUTHPORT-MURDERERS-SEARCH-HISTORY.jpg)
FBI to help find Southport murderer's search history
The FBI and US Department of Justice have agreed to help UK police investigate Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.
!['Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing' 'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/cFI3W9ADR1739776253547/MOURINHO-WOULD-FACETIME-ME-TO-ASK-WHAT-IM-DOING.jpg)
'Mourinho would FaceTime me to ask what I'm doing'
Former Man United star Jesse Lingard tells Miguel Delaney about leaving his boyhood club, ‘what might have been’ with England, and how life at FC Seoul has revitalised his career
![Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1997444/UnoFye29g1739776042823/SPURS-EDGE-UNITED-IN-TRULY-LOWQUALITY-MIDTABLE-CLASH.jpg)
Spurs edge United in truly low-quality mid-table clash
Towards the end of Tottenham Hotspur’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, with the game still in the balance, both Brennan Johnson and Patrick Dorgu lost theirs.