This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/7947766.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Unemployment poised to breach 2m Unemployment passes two million
(about 1 hour 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. UK unemployment has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, official figures have shown.
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. 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.
UK unemployment totalled 1.97 million during the October to December quarter. 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.
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.
BBC News is tracking where jobs have been created and lost around the UK BBC UK jobs trackerHow to get a job in a recession
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.
"This time we could see quite a sharp deterioration."
Business warningsBusiness 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.
RECORD UNEMPLOYMENT The recession will last longer in the UK than in any of the world's other major economies, the IMF predicts Jobless tide swamps vacancy pool as some parts of the UK suffer high unemployment while elsewhere employers struggle to fill vacancies Read our guide on how to cope with unemployment See the picture of unemployment across the UK
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."Reports of companies laying off workers are prevalent, while an increasing number of companies are folding," said Howard Archer, chief economist at Global Insight.
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.
Have you recently lost your job? Are you having difficulty finding work? Send us your comments using the form below:Have you recently lost your job? Are you having difficulty finding work? Send us your comments using the form below:
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Name
 Name