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  • Unemployment hits another high

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Unemployment hits another high

The latest unemployment figures have increased by 177,000 to 2.1 million. Furthermore, the Office for National Statistics said that the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance increased by 73,700 last month to 1.46 million. The figures come just hours before Chancellor Alistair Darling stands up in the Commons to outline his Budget. Initially, it was predicted to show a jump of over 120,000 in the number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance in March following a massive increase of 138,000 in the so-called claimant count the previous month. Total unemployment, including those not eligible for benefits, passed the 2 million mark last month for the first time in 12 years and is expected to continue rising for the rest of the year. Business groups and unions now expect the wider measure of unemployment to reach at least 3 million next year because of the effects of the recession. The TUC warned that mass unemployment is the "biggest possible drain" on public finances, stressing that jobs should be at the heart of the Budget.

ITN | April 22, 2009Watch more videos from ITN

Tags:. .tuc. .furthermore. .eligible. .wider. .chancellor











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