The rate of unemployment in Britain has risen to its highest level since 2002.
The unemployment rate was 5.2 per cent in the three months to March, up 0.1 per cent on the previous quarter and the highest since November 2002, says the ONS.
The figures came as the number of people out of work hit nearly 1.6 million between January and March, up 44,000 over the quarter and 177,000 over the 12-month period.
Meanwhile, the number of people claiming unemployment benefit also continued to rise to its highest level for nearly three years, up 7,700 in April to 945,500.
It was the highest number of people on jobseeker's allowance since June 2003 and means that the number has risen for 13 of the last 14 months.
That is the longest period of increases since the UK emerged from recession in 1992.
The car industry has recently been among the heaviest hit by job cuts with Vauxhall the latest in a line to announce up to 1,000 job cuts.
PA