Unemployment has soared to its highest level in more than 12 years as UK companies continue to fold or slash headcount in the face of Britain’s deepest recession in almost 30 years.

The total number of people out of work rose by 232,000 in the three months to April, to 2.261 million, data from the Office for National Statistics showed. This pushed the unemployment rate, as measured by the labour force survey, to 7.2% – the highest since July 1997.

The ONS said another 39,300 people joined the claimant count in May, taking the number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance to 1.554 million. This was less than forecast by City economists, who had expected a rise of 60,000.

Today’s data also showed that the number of people in employment fell by 271,000 between February and April – the biggest three-month fall on record. Shadow work and pensions secretary Theresa May said this was “another grim milestone” in the recession.

“The sad reality is that the Government is continuing to sleepwalk through this unemployment crisis,” claimed May.

Source/Full Story: guardian.co.uk

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