Published: Thursday, 23rd April, 2009 8:00am

Jump in unemployment - but less than last month

by Alan Bunce

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NEW unemployment figures show a further 809 people out of work in the last month across the four council areas covering Reading.

But the rate of increase has slowed with 1,822 joining the jobless total across the four authorities.

A breakdown reveals that:

In Reading borough the figure claiming benefit is now 3,796 (3.9% of the workforce), up 352; Wokingham borough 1,859 (1.9%) up 63; West Berkshire 2,305 people (2.5%) up 263; South Oxfordshire 1,560 (2%) up 131.

Last month the Reading increase was 689, Wokingham 370, West Berkshire 511 and South Oxfordshire 257.

Nationally the rate of increase has also slowed, with the jobless rate jumping 0.4% from 3.4% to 3.8% between January and February, but 0.2% from 3.8% to 4% between February and March.