CIPD calls for official inquiry into ‘puzzling’ unemployment figures

The CIPD has called for an investigation into a mismatch between official figures showing a record rise in unemployment and lower than expected numbers of people claiming jobseekers allowance. The figures were published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) today.

John Philpott, chief economist at the CIPD, said: “Given the severity of the current recession, with an unprecedented 281,000 quarterly (March-May) rise in unemployment, you might have expected more people to sign on.”