5,000 more people on Live Register

THE number of unemployed people rose sharply last month by 5,000, making it the biggest jump of the entire year, the latest figures show.

The Central Statistic Office returns for the Live Register last month show about 170,000 people are unemployed, 5,000 more than in October.

The seasonally-adjusted figure reflects an ongoing trend of upward unemployment figures since the beginning of 2007.