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| Unemployment passes two million | Unemployment passes two million |
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| UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown. | UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown. |
| During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totalled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). | During the three months to January, the number of people unemployed totalled 2.03 million, up by 165,000, said the Office for National Statistics (ONS). |
| For February, the number of people getting jobseeker's allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million. | For February, the number of people getting jobseeker's allowance added a record 138,400 to reach 1.39 million. |
| 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. |
| 'Unemployment milestone' | 'Unemployment milestone' |
| UNEMPLOYMENT: FULL COVERAGE Read our guide on how to cope with unemploymentAnd some handy tips on getting a job in a recessionCheck out the BBC jobs tracker to find out which companies are hiring and firingSee how unemployment is affecting your regionAlso read our report on the contrasting fortunes of Oldham - where there are 30 people chasing each vacancy - and Chester where businesses struggle to fill jobs. | UNEMPLOYMENT: FULL COVERAGE Read our guide on how to cope with unemploymentAnd some handy tips on getting a job in a recessionCheck out the BBC jobs tracker to find out which companies are hiring and firingSee how unemployment is affecting your regionAlso read our report on the contrasting fortunes of Oldham - where there are 30 people chasing each vacancy - and Chester where businesses struggle to fill jobs. |
| The ONS added that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.5% between November and January. | The ONS added that the unemployment rate jumped to 6.5% between November and January. |
| Unemployment is rising as the first recession in the UK since 1991 continues to bite. Many economists now predict it will go above three million next year. | Unemployment is rising as the first recession in the UK since 1991 continues to bite. Many economists now predict it will go above three million next year. |
| "This is another milestone in the return of mass unemployment to the UK, and it will get worse before it gets better as unemployment always persists even after a recovery starts," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. | "This is another milestone in the return of mass unemployment to the UK, and it will get worse before it gets better as unemployment always persists even after a recovery starts," said TUC general secretary Brendan Barber. |
| Turning his attention to next month's G20 meeting in London, Mr Barber added that it was now imperative that world leaders work together to help stimulate the global economy. | Turning his attention to next month's G20 meeting in London, Mr Barber added that it was now imperative that world leaders work together to help stimulate the global economy. |
| David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the government should now "seriously consider" temporary wage subsidies. | David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce, said the government should now "seriously consider" temporary wage subsidies. |
| Owen Bednall lost his job at the BMW plant in Cowley in mid-February | |
| The ONS figures showed that it is the private sector that is seeing the rise in unemployment. | The ONS figures showed that it is the private sector that is seeing the rise in unemployment. |
| They showed that in December 2008, the number of people in private sector employment was 23.6 million, down 13,000 from September 2008. | They showed that in December 2008, the number of people in private sector employment was 23.6 million, down 13,000 from September 2008. |
| Over the same period, the number of people with public sector jobs rose 15,000 to 5.78 million. | Over the same period, the number of people with public sector jobs rose 15,000 to 5.78 million. |
| The ONS added that average earnings, including bonuses, rose only 1.8% in the year to January, the lowest annual rise since records began in 1991. | The ONS added that average earnings, including bonuses, rose only 1.8% in the year to January, the lowest annual rise since records began in 1991. |
| Political wrangle | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown told the Commons that the government was continuing to do all it could to help the unemployed. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I lost my job one week before Christmas. I was two months away from completing my probationary period Jo, HorshamSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY I lost my job one week before Christmas. I was two months away from completing my probationary period Jo, HorshamSend us your comments |
| "The action we are taking now is designed to get us through this as quickly as possible," he said. | |
| Mr Brown added that despite the rise in UK unemployment, it remained higher in other countries. | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron countered that Mr Brown had led the UK to the current level of unemployment "without a hint of an apology, and the British people will never forgive him". | |
| Business warnings | |
| Separate reports by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and CBI have both predicted that UK unemployment will rise above three million in 2010. | Separate reports by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and CBI have both predicted that UK unemployment will rise above three million in 2010. |
| Tony McNulty: 'These are very bad figures' | |
| The BCC said the UK economy had worsened "significantly" so far in 2009, and said unemployment will hit 3.2 million next year, slightly more than 10% of the workforce. | The BCC said the UK economy had worsened "significantly" so far in 2009, and said unemployment will hit 3.2 million next year, slightly more than 10% of the workforce. |
| Alan Tomlinson, an accountant who guides firms through insolvency, said he had "never been so busy". | Alan Tomlinson, an accountant who guides firms through insolvency, said he had "never been so busy". |
| "Companies of all sizes and in all sectors are folding by the day, putting more and more people out of a job," he said. | "Companies of all sizes and in all sectors are folding by the day, putting more and more people out of a job," he said. |
| "The CBI's prediction, last month, that unemployment will peak at just over three million in the second quarter of 2010 could prove to be wildly optimistic." | "The CBI's prediction, last month, that unemployment will peak at just over three million in the second quarter of 2010 could prove to be wildly optimistic." |
| The International Monetary Fund predicted on Wednesday that the UK's recession would last longer than that of any of the world's other major economies. | The International Monetary Fund predicted on Wednesday that the UK's recession would last longer than that of any of the world's other major economies. |
| It warned the UK would be the only member of the G7 group of leading industrial countries that would continue to see its economy contract in 2010. | It warned the UK would be the only member of the G7 group of leading industrial countries that would continue to see its economy contract in 2010. |