The UK unemployment rate is at its highest since 2000



The number of people out of work in the UK in the three months to September jumped by 140,000 to 1.82 million - the highest in 11 years.
The unemployment rate rose to 5.8%, up from 5.4% in the previous quarter, according to official figures.
The number of people claiming the Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 36,500 to 980,900 in October - the highest monthly increase since 1992.
Economists say unemployment in Britain could soon reach the two million-mark.
The number of manufacturing jobs fell to 2.86 million, the lowest figure since records began in 1978.
The so-called claimant count - those claiming the allowance - has now increased for nine months in a row and is 154,800 higher than a year ago.
Jobless totals
The number of people in work fell by 99,000 to 29.4 million and vacancies were down by 40,000 to 589,000, according to the Office for National Statistics.
These latest figures do not take into account recent job loss announcements, including news of more than 5,000 cuts on Tuesday by firms including Virgin Media, Yell, Taylor Wimpey and GlaxoSmithKline.
The unemployment rate is now 5.8%, the highest since early 2000, while the number of people looking for work has jumped by 182,000 over the past year.
The number of unemployed men was 1.07 million, up 85,000 over the latest quarter, while 55,000 more women joined the ranks of the unemployed, up to 750,000.
Unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds increased by 53,000 to 579,000, the highest figure since 1995. Long-term unemployment has also increased, with the numbers out of work for longer than a year up by 20,000 to 435,000.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7724084.stm