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| Unemployment poised to breach 2m | Unemployment poised to breach 2m |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Official figures due out later are expected to show that unemployment in the UK has risen to more than two million for the first time since 1997. | Official figures due out later are expected to show that unemployment in the UK has risen to more than two million for the first time since 1997. |
| Analysts predict that the data for November to January will show that the number of people without work rose by more than 150,000 during the period. | Analysts predict that the data for November to January will show that the number of people without work rose by more than 150,000 during the period. |
| UK unemployment totalled 1.97 million during the October to December quarter. | UK unemployment totalled 1.97 million during the October to December quarter. |
| There are now 10 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres, the TUC claimed earlier this week. | There are now 10 jobseekers for every vacancy advertised in UK jobcentres, the TUC claimed earlier this week. |
| Sharp deterioration? | Sharp deterioration? |
| The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are also expected to show a rise in those claiming jobseeker's allowance for February. During January, the total rose 73,800 to 1.23 million. | The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are also expected to show a rise in those claiming jobseeker's allowance for February. During January, the total rose 73,800 to 1.23 million. |
| Reports of companies laying off workers are prevalent, while an increasing number of companies are folding Howard Archer, chief economist at Global Insight | |
| The last time the UK's unemployment figure - using the favoured International Labour Organization's method of measurement - stood at two million was in the three months to August 1997, shortly after the Labour Party under Tony Blair came to power. | The last time the UK's unemployment figure - using the favoured International Labour Organization's method of measurement - stood at two million was in the three months to August 1997, shortly after the Labour Party under Tony Blair came to power. |
| "We've had a spate of announced job cuts, but much of this has yet to show up in the official data," said Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas. | "We've had a spate of announced job cuts, but much of this has yet to show up in the official data," said Alan Clarke, UK economist at BNP Paribas. |
| "This time we could see quite a sharp deterioration." | "This time we could see quite a sharp deterioration." |
| Business warnings | Business warnings |
| Earlier this month the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the economy had worsened "significantly" so far in 2009. | Earlier this month the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said the economy had worsened "significantly" so far in 2009. |
| It also made the gloomy prediction that by the second half of next year unemployment across the UK would reach 3.2 million, which is slightly more than 10% of the workforce. | It also made the gloomy prediction that by the second half of next year unemployment across the UK would reach 3.2 million, which is slightly more than 10% of the workforce. |
| Last month, business body the CBI predicted there would be 2.9 million people unemployed by the end of 2009, breaching the three million mark in 2010. | Last month, business body the CBI predicted there would be 2.9 million people unemployed by the end of 2009, breaching the three million mark in 2010. |
| Unemployment is rising as the first recession in the UK since 1991 continues to bite. | Unemployment is rising as the first recession in the UK since 1991 continues to bite. |
| "Reports of companies laying off workers are prevalent, while an increasing number of companies are folding," said Howard Archer, chief economist at Global Insight. |