Unemployment in Britain has climbed to its highest rate in nearly 13 years, with 2.47 million people out of work in the recession-hit country, official data has shown.
The number of jobless increased by 210,000 in the three months leading up to July, figures showed on Wednesday, taking the unemployment rate up to 7.9 per cent, Britain's highest since November 1996.
Analysts have also warned that while layoffs may be slowing, the rate could rise to three million by next year.
"While the deepest job losses are now probably over, the outlook for the labour market remains far from encouraging," Howard Archer, a UK economist at Global Insight, an economic forecaster, said.
"Doubts and concerns over the strength and sustainability of any recovery are likely to encourage businesses to keep their labour forces as tight as possible."
BUSINESS - UK jobless rate hits 13-year high
Unemployment in Britain has climbed to its highest rate in nearly 13 years, with 2.47 million people out of work in the recession-hit country, official data has shown.
The number of jobless increased by 210,000 in the three months leading up to July, figures showed on Wednesday, taking the unemployment rate up to 7.9 per cent, Britain's highest since November 1996.
Analysts have also warned that while layoffs may be slowing, the rate could rise to three million by next year.
"While the deepest job losses are now probably over, the outlook for the labour market remains far from encouraging," Howard Archer, a UK economist at Global Insight, an economic forecaster, said.
"Doubts and concerns over the strength and sustainability of any recovery are likely to encourage businesses to keep their labour forces as tight as possible."
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