Unemployment in UK could double

Date: 17th September 2008

Businesses need to work with trade unions and the government to slow down unemployment, it has been suggested.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has forecast a large increase in the number of people unemployed for over a year from its current 400,000 level to more than 700,000 by the start of 2010.

The TUC is quick to point out that the situation could be much worse, but that businesses must do all they can to stem the flow on unemployment.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: "Employment levels have remained high despite the recent economic turbulence and are nowhere near the dark days of 1992.

"However, the TUC is concerned that unemployment has been sneaking up in the last few months."

Mr Baber added that the government needed to act with economic measures rather than a series of welfare reforms.

According to unbiased.co.uk, up to £242 million worth of tax breaks are wasted by parents every year.