The number of unemployed in the UK rose by 53,000 to 2.51 million during the last three months to March, figures from the Office of National Statistics show, the highest level since December 1994.
The total number of people claiming unemployment benefit however fell in April by 27,100 to 1.52 million.
Better news from the Bank of England who have announced this week that interest rates will remain at a record low of 0.5%