LONDON (AP) -- Unemployment in Britain rose to 6.7 percent in the three months through February, up from 6.5 percent in the quarter through January, government data showed Wednesday, as companies hit by the recession continued to lay off workers.
The number of people counted as unemployed rose to 2.1 million in the period compared with 2.03 million in the three months ending in January, the Office for National Statistics said.
Annual earnings growth was just 0.1 percent, down from 1.6 percent, the agency said.
The number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased for the 13th month, rising 73,700 to 1.46 million in the latest report.
The number of manufacturing jobs fell to a record low of 2.75 million, and the number of people with full time jobs dropped to 21.74 million, 81,000 fewer than in the previous quarter.
The impact of unemployment showed in another report on Wednesday, with government revenue from taxes on income and wealth falling by 18 percent compared to a year ago.
