During the months of November 2012 to January 2013, unemployment rose, the Office of National Statistics (ONS) has said.
In its latest repor,t the organisation said the figures shot up by 7,000 to 2.52 million, compared to the previous three months.
The North East of England fared the worst with a top unemployment rate of 9.8 percent, while the East and South East of England saw the lowest figures with 6.6 percent.
Last month the organisation found that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 1,500 to 1.54 million.
The number of unemployed women increased by 5000, while youths also suffered. Figures stood at 993000 unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds in the latest quarter, up by 48000 from the three months to October.
The ONS also revealed that average earnings for those in employment increased by 1.2 percent in the year to January.
Unison general secretary Dave Prentis said the latest figures showed that the government had “failed every single one of these [unemployed] people and it has failed our country.”
He said instead of the bedroom tax or cutting child benefit, the government could dramatically reduce the welfare bill by getting people back to work.
“The Government should use today’s Budget to take bold action to fuel growth. Taxing banking bonuses could provide vital funds to stop the jobs carnage in the public sector and provide the jobs and growth our economy so desperately needs,” he added.
