Back to the future (redux), redux

The number of people out of work in the UK rose 244,000 to 2.22 million in the first three months of 2009, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

The jobless rate rose from 6.7% to 7.1%. Unemployment benefit claimants in April rose 57,100 to 1.51 million.

The quarterly rises in the jobless rate and number were the biggest since 1981.

The figures were due to be released by the ONS at 0930 BST on Wednesday, but came out at 1400 on Tuesday after an “accidental early release”.

The ONS has launched an inquiry into how the early release happened.

- BBC News

Back to the Future redux

You’ll be seeing a lot of this one over the next year…

UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown.

During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totalled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). For February, the number of people getting jobseeker’s allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million.

There are now 10 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres, the TUC claimed earlier this week.

The ONS added that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.5% between November and January.

Unemployment is rising as the first recession in the UK since 1991 continues to bite. Many economists now predict it will go above three million next year.

- BBC News