Data Skills Test - Unemployment rates

2009 was the worst year for UK unemployment in the decade, according to new figures.



These new figures show that the average UK unemployment rate in 2009 (from January to July only) was 2,333,000 compared to the lowest figures in 2004, 1,422,000.
This is due to Britain being in the middle of a recession, so obviously many companies downsizing has had an effect on the number of jobs available.
When the unemployment rate was much lower, the economy was doing a lot better.
Perhaps the most surprising figure is the sharp increase from 2008 to 2009, as in other years there had been a steady increase.
Hopefully when the UK emerges from the recession, the unemployment rate will also improve.

Link to the Guardian Datastore chart here.
Link to my edited chart here.
Link to information on unemployment benefits here.