Unemployment figure up by 177,000

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The number of people looking for work jumped by 177,000 in the three months to February to reach 2.1 million - the biggest quarterly rise since 1991.

The total is the worst since February 1997, a few months before Labour won the general election.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance increased for the 13th month in a row in March, up by 73,700 to 1.46 million, the highest total since September 1997.

A raft of other gloomy figures from the Office for National Statistics showed continuing cuts in manufacturing jobs, a record low number of vacancies and the lowest rise in average earnings since 1991.

Meanwhile economic inactivity, including people on long-term sick leave, those taking early retirement or who have given up looking for work, remained at more than 20% of the workforce at 7.85 million.

Average earnings increased by just 0.1% in the year to February, down by 1.6% from the previous month, while the figure excluding bonuses was down by 0.3% to 3.2%. Both figures were record lows.

The UK now has an unemployment rate of 6.7%, the highest since the summer of 1997, the figures show.

The number of manufacturing jobs fell by 139,000 in the quarter to February, compared to the previous year, to reach a record low of 2.75 million.

Job vacancies fell by 68,000 in the quarter to March to a record low of 462,000, while a record 270,000 people were made redundant in the three months to February.