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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| UK jobless total hits 2.2 million | UK jobless total hits 2.2 million |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| The number of people out of work in the UK rose 244,000 to 2.22 million in the first three months of 2009, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | The number of people out of work in the UK rose 244,000 to 2.22 million in the first three months of 2009, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| The jobless rate rose from 6.7% to 7.1%. Unemployment benefit claimants in April rose 57,100 to 1.51 million. | The jobless rate rose from 6.7% to 7.1%. Unemployment benefit claimants in April rose 57,100 to 1.51 million. |
| The figures were due to be released at by the ONS at 0930 BST on Wednesday, but came out at 1400 on Tuesday after an "accidental early release". | The figures were due to be released at by the ONS at 0930 BST on Wednesday, but came out at 1400 on Tuesday after an "accidental early release". |
| The ONS has launched an inquiry into how the early release happened. | The ONS has launched an inquiry into how the early release happened. |
| "The standout numbers are the big increase in the unemployment rate at 7.1%," said Brian Hilliard, chief UK economist at Societe Generale. | |
| I fear that the unemployment rate... is certain to deteriorate much further Brian Hilliard, chief UK economist at Societe Generale | |
| "We had been looking for 6.9% so that is a really sharp acceleration." | |
| Both the unemployment rate and the number of people out of work rose at their highest quarterly rates since 1981. | |
| Average earnings including bonuses were 0.4% lower in the first three months of 2009 than they had been in the same period of 2008. | Average earnings including bonuses were 0.4% lower in the first three months of 2009 than they had been in the same period of 2008. |
| Average earnings had not fallen since records began in 1991. The ONS said it was "mainly due to lower bonuses in the financial sector". | Average earnings had not fallen since records began in 1991. The ONS said it was "mainly due to lower bonuses in the financial sector". |
| There were 455,000 job vacancies in the first three months of the year, which was down 51,000 from the previous quarter and 232,000 from the same period of 2008. | There were 455,000 job vacancies in the first three months of the year, which was down 51,000 from the previous quarter and 232,000 from the same period of 2008. |
| "I fear that the unemployment rate... is certain to deteriorate much further. We're looking at figures of 10% around the turn of the year," Mr Hilliard said. |