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| UK unemployment rises to 2.52 million | UK unemployment rises to 2.52 million |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UK unemployment has risen to 2.52 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. | UK unemployment has risen to 2.52 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said. |
| ONS figures showed 15,000 more people were unemployed in the three months to the end of March, with the unemployment rate now at 7.8%. | ONS figures showed 15,000 more people were unemployed in the three months to the end of March, with the unemployment rate now at 7.8%. |
| Jobseeker's Allowance claimants fell by 7,300 last month to 1.52 million. | Jobseeker's Allowance claimants fell by 7,300 last month to 1.52 million. |
| But despite this an ONS spokesman told the BBC the figures suggest the recent period of falling unemployment "seems to have come to an end". | But despite this an ONS spokesman told the BBC the figures suggest the recent period of falling unemployment "seems to have come to an end". |
| The total number of people in employment fell by 43,000 to 29.7 million, although the number of vacancies is at its highest level since 2008. | |
| 'Reality check' | 'Reality check' |
| Growth in average earnings is also slowing, the ONS figures suggest. | |
| Average earnings increased by 0.4% in the year to March, compared with a rate of 0.8% in the previous month. | Average earnings increased by 0.4% in the year to March, compared with a rate of 0.8% in the previous month. |
| That is the lowest rate of growth since 2009, and means wages are continuing to fall in real terms, with inflation still well above the target rate of 2%. | That is the lowest rate of growth since 2009, and means wages are continuing to fall in real terms, with inflation still well above the target rate of 2%. |
| Employment Minister Mark Hoban described the figures as "disappointing". | Employment Minister Mark Hoban described the figures as "disappointing". |
| But he said the falls in claimant numbers and in youth unemployment were reasons for optimism. | But he said the falls in claimant numbers and in youth unemployment were reasons for optimism. |
| The unemployment total for young people aged between 16 and 24 is now at 958,000 - a rate of 20.7% - down 17,000 in the quarter. | |
| Analysts said the figures were in contrast to recent encouraging data suggesting a slow recovery in the UK economy. | Analysts said the figures were in contrast to recent encouraging data suggesting a slow recovery in the UK economy. |
| "Following recent positive news on the economy, today's UK labour market data provides something of a reality check," said Martin Beck, economist at Capital Economics. | "Following recent positive news on the economy, today's UK labour market data provides something of a reality check," said Martin Beck, economist at Capital Economics. |
| He said the fall in claimant numbers was one piece of positive news, but said that trend could be temporary. | He said the fall in claimant numbers was one piece of positive news, but said that trend could be temporary. |
| "With further significant public sector job losses in the pipeline and firms likely to seek to restore productivity by shedding workers, it may not be long before even this narrower measure of unemployment starts to rise too." | "With further significant public sector job losses in the pipeline and firms likely to seek to restore productivity by shedding workers, it may not be long before even this narrower measure of unemployment starts to rise too." |