LONDON (AP) -- The jobless rate in Britain rose by 0.2 percent to 5.4 percent in the three months ended in June as the number of unemployed people jumped by 60,000, the government said on Wednesday -- yet more evidence of a looming recession.
The jobless total grew to 1.67 million over the period, according to the report from the Office for National Statistics.
At the same time, the number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased at the highest monthly rate for over 15 years.
Total unemployment, including people not eligible for benefits, is now 15,000 higher than a year ago. Around 126,000 people were made redundant in the three months to June, up by 14,000 from the quarter to March.
Despite the rise in the jobless figures, the number of people working actually rose by 20,000 between April and June to 29.56 million, the second highest on record.
That figure was boosted by a big rise in the number of people working after retirement.
The number of working women over 60 and men over 65 increased to a record 1.3 million.
