Joblessness breaches 2.5 million

The number of unemployed people has broken the 2.5 million barrier and is now at its highest level since 1994, latest figures show.

Under the Labour Force Survey count, UK unemployment rose by 27,000 to 2.53 million in the three months ending January, according to the Office for National Statistics .

Both male and female unemployment rose. The number of jobless men is up by 24,000 to 1.49 million and unemployed women numbered 1.04 million — a rise of 3,000 on the previous three-month period. Their unemployment rates are up to 8.7% and 7.2% respectively.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber described the figures as “shocking” and showed “the jobs recovery is still some way off”.

He said: “This government’s economic policies risk making high joblessness a permanent feature of our economy. It must change course before it’s too late.”

The increase in unemployed young people continues to be of concern. There are 974,000 unemployed people aged between 16 and 24 and over a fifth are unable to find jobs.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance had some good news as the so-called claimant count fell by 10,200 to 1.45 million in February.

The jobless rate of claimants is unchanged for the eighth consecutive month at 4.5%.