Unemployment in the UK: your stories & views

The UK unemployment rate is now at its highest level for 16 years.

The number of people out of work jumped by 48,000 in October-December 2011 to 2.67 million, a jobless rate of 8.4%: the worst figure since the end of 1995.

The total number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 6,900 in January to 1.6 million, the 11th consecutive monthly increase. The number of women claiming the allowance increased by 1,500 last month to 531,700, the highest figure since the summer of 1995.

Meanwhile a record number of people are working part-time because they cannot find full-time jobs - up by 83,000 over the latest quarter to 1.35 million.

On our economy blog we asked you to send us your experiences of the UK job market - whether you're unemployed and looking for a job, if you fear your current occupation is at risk, and also what you think should be done about the growing number of people out of work.

Many thanks for all your responses. Here is a selection of the comments you sent us.

"There are jobs out there, but the jobs are for managers and assistant managers. No-one is training in-house any more. They expect everyone to be already trained. If companies would train up their existing staff, there would be room at the bottom of the ladder."
- Jamie Ditch

"Been looking for weeks and weeks now. No one wants to give you a chance. You need to have a degree in turning on a tap for some things. Too many qualifications required out there to do simple jobs. Job Centre isn't much help either to be honest."
- Jimmythebee

"I am unemployed and living in Hartlepool, which as highlighted on the BBC today is the worst place for unemployment in Britain. I have a degree and years and years of experience but at 40 am just being looked over for any jobs that come up, which to be honest aren't many. Can't see it getting any bettter in the near future either."
- David Lloyd

"I don't know what all the fuss is about. Trying to find a job isn't that hard. Both me and my husband were made redundant within six months of each other. Both of us found new jobs within a matter of weeks. We have also moved location recently to one of the 'highest' unemployment rated areas and we still both found new jobs. I'm not saying all people will find it easy but you need to treat not having a job like having one. Get up early in the morning and work 9-5 looking for jobs every day."
- Blondeatheart

"That person who said that it isn't hard to get a job...what planet is she living on? I moved location from the Midlands to the East coast and spent the next 8 months constantly searching for employment. All the industry has disappeared from this area and employers only want people who are already fully trained with high qualifications. How am I supposed to get these qualifications? I now have a part-time job which brings in a little money but I can't afford to pay for any courses to get better qualified."
- Fluffbun

"I completely agree with Blondeatheart. I was unemployed from November and started searching for a job immediately. I worked hard at it, was invited to 3 interviews and secured a job in exactly the area I wanted by January! I'm only 24 years old too, with little work experience. I believe that most people don't put in the effort required to find a job and they have unrealistic ideas of the type and level of work they see themselves doing."
- Kieron

"The problem is purely recruitment agencies. They are constantly advertising jobs that do not exist. Ban agencies. You go into an agency because you have seen an advert for a job in the window or on a website, you apply for that job but it doesn't exist and they tell you about another job. Agencies are drowning the UK. That's why no one can get a job. Who else agrees with me?"
- Mark Goldsmith

"It's absolute rubbish to say that it isn't hard to get a job. I was made redundant from my admin job in June and have been searching since then. I'm not just searching for admin work either, I've applied for office cleaning, only to be told that I was too over-qualified, shop work, and basically anything and everything that I can apply for."
- Gemma

"In my opinion recruitment agencies are slowing down the process. Unfortunately there are more recruitment agencies than ever before."
- Margaret

"I worked in local government and was made redundant last May. I've applied for loads of admin based jobs in the area but have only had one unsuccessful interview in all that time. Because I'm happily married to someone in employment I was only entitled to 6 months JSA, since then I've been expected to 'live off' him and be grateful! By the way, I'm 51 years of age and unemployable. It seems as far as working is concerned I was finished at 50 and NOT on any unemployment figures - I'm sure I'm not alone!"
- Alice

I am a legal secretary and my hours had been reduced to part-time over a year ago. The firm I work for are 80% Legal Aid (publicly funded) and because of the cutbacks in government spent and a 10% slash in legal aid costs, I have been desperately looking for alternative work but there are less legal secretarial jobs out there than there were three years ago! I dread that my job will come to an end if the government take steps to cut back on public spending further!
- Helen F

Stop targeting the young with half-baked schemes that are simply designed to massage the figures. Create proper jobs for all age groups through spending power. Slash VAT and increase tax for the rich. Also tackle top companies using off shore tax havens
- Buffalo Bazza

"I used to run my own business for 28 years and am now prepared to do anything but I am unable to get a job cutting grass on a golf course. A simple labourer's job requires some sort of document to certify that you know how to climb out of a hole that you might have fallen into. Why all this bureaucracy for the simplest of jobs? And sadly there are agencies out there that offer to get you work for a fee but they take your money and give you nothing in return."
- Johnny Islander

"I have been unemployed for nine months. I was working for one of the councils in London. They made me unemployed to save money, but they could have saved money in the area they are wasting money. If the government does not care and easy option for them is cut jobs, then who should we turn to."
- Noreen

"I am a publican and I don't know anyone who is really unemployed. I know lots who claim benefit, but none who don't do some paid work of some kind, without paying tax or insurance or VAT. It's time to crack down on the cheats."
- Dave, Rochdale

"Both my husband and I have been looking for work since November 2011 and have applied for EVERY job advertised anywhere in the Western Isles. But we either had no reply or were turned down without a chance of an interview. My husband is 51, I am 58. The JobCentre doesn't even seem bothered that we can't find work and don't seem to expect us to. We WANT to work, I've spent all day every day on the PC looking for opportunities. So stop 'crowing' Blondeatheart, some of us want to work, try to work, but are still unsuccessful. The older unemployed seem to be relabelled unemployable. Believe me when I say we are both NOT unemployable, we are very able, but no-one wants to give us a chance."
- Giveusachance

"Blondeatheart was just lucky! I've been out of full time work since August 2010. Shops aren't interested as I have a postgraduate qualification and competition for teaching jobs, and the other industries I'm qualified for, is fierce. Some job applications are getting ridiculously long to try and shortlist applicants; my last one wanted a two-page letter, eight pages on how you met the key criteria and the application form. I've easily applied for 200 jobs now in a HUGE variety of sectors and have now left the country (and the little JSA I could get) in the hope of getting work in Australia."
- Blue

"My son has recently returned from France after several years of seasonal work. He is 25 and unable to find work anywhere. He has been told he is not entitled to any JSA and is expected to live off us. We are both pensioners!"
- Keykate

"There was a near riot in the late 60s when unemployment rose to over 800,000. And back then under-18s were included as most left school at 16. There were no schemes to doctor the figures. Some reckon the figures are now six million if you include all those under-employed people who have to take low paid jobs and have to rely on benefits to survive. It's time the governments stopped sponsering companies who pay below survival rates. Work is not something most of us desire. We work because we have to."
- Jim Brown

"I watched a very good friend of mine lose his job in a low-skilled but added value role three years ago. He proceeded to spend the next six months 'holidaying'. Then when he had run out of money he asked to stay on my sofa. I observed his behaviour over a two-year period. He worked hard on his CV. He sent of hundreds of job applications and he attended 20 or 30 of the same type of job interview being rejected for all of them. In this time, he was signed on to benefits. He claimed to be an example of the current job situation. Yet at no point did he do any training courses, apply to intern, approach a different type of employment, get a bar job, clean windows, learn ANYTHING new; he just kept doing the same thing and resting on the laurels of benefits. I was appalled. This is an example of what Tony Blair has done to Britain. We are lazy, we have no imagination and we've forgotten that it is up to YOU not the government to make something happen in your life. Thankfully the Tories will bring a fresh attitude to education and self-perception and hopefully we can dust off the nightmare caused by Labour."
- Al, London

"I also worked for local goverment and my fixed term contract ended in May. The really annoying thing is I'm still unemployed (and not through lack of trying to get work). The same job that I did for 18 months and the goverment ended is the same job that the goverment are now advertising as they need more people. The figures for unemployment were not much less than they are now at the time they ended my contract. This is public money they are spending and the cost to recruit again and train new people - well you can just imagine. And they are recruiting nationally. So frustrating! If goverment was a private company they would have gone bust a long time ago. The civil service wastes so much money and I have seen it with my own eyes."
- Brummie

• Join our unemployment debate on Facebook