UK unemployment rises to 15-year high at 2.5 million
22 Apr 2010
According official data released yesterday, the number of jobless people in the UK has touched 2.5 million - the highest for three months upto February 2010.
The figures come as the battered UK economy stages a fragile recovery and the country prepares for general elections next month.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement that the number of unemployed people increased by 43,000 over the quarter and reached 2.5 million, the highest figure since the three months to December 1994.
For the three months to February, the unemployment rate was at 8 per cent.
According to the data, the number of people on jobless allowance fell by 32,900 between February and March 2010 to reach 1.54 million.
The period also saw the number of employed people drop by 89,000 to reach 28.82 million with full-time and part-time employee numbers falling 59,000 and 30,000 respectively.