Unemployment figues were widely expected to stay flat at 8.3% but figures from the Office of National statistics (ONS) show a decline in the number of unemployed to 8.4%. 

There is however some positive news in these figures, as there is a rise in the number of self employed by just over 100,000 to a new high of 4.3 million, though the private sector creation of new jobs can not keep up with the public centre loss of employment, as most government bodies can testify

Over one in 5 young people are now out of work, 22.3% of the available workforce in the 16-24 bracket.

With so many well known high street companies either in administration, or about to enter it, the jobs statistics look unlikely to improve in 2012 and most economists expect them to nudge the 3 million mark before any form of improvement is seen.