UK jobless total hits 14-year high

Unemployment in the UK is at a 14-year high of 2.47 million after a 210,000 rise in the three months to July, official figures showed today.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance rose by 24,400 to 1.61 million in August – the highest since May 1997 and the 18th monthly rise in a row, according to Britain's Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The recession’s impact on young people was also underlined by jobless totals among 16-24-year-olds reaching 947,000 – the highest level since ONS records began in 1992.

The jobless rate among this age group is also a record 19.7%, meaning one in five is looking for work.