Unemployment in the UK 'on the rise'

The number of people in the UK heading to the job centre in search of employment is likely to have increased at the tail-end of last year, judging by newly-released figures.

According to findings from the Office for National Statistics, unemployment rose by 118,000 in the three months to November 2011.

This meant the total number of people in the UK out of work climbed to almost 2.7 million, while the unemployment rate also escalated from 8.3 per cent to 8.4 per cent - the highest level it has stood at since January 1996.

In addition, it was revealed that the amount of young people in search of employment reached a new record of more than one million.

Prime minister David Cameron - who is also the Conservative MP for Witney - noted the figures were not a positive sign, adding: "Any increase in unemployment is disappointing and obviously a tragedy for the person who becomes unemployed."