The number of people unemployed in the UK has gone up by 43,000 between December and February to reach 2.5 million, data from the Office for National Statistics reveals.
The ONS says this is the highest figure since the three months to December 1994.
The unemployment rate for the three months to February was 8%, up 0.1% on the previous quarter.
Although the number of people unemployed for up to six months fell by 46,000 to 1.22 million, the number of those out of work for more than a year has increased by 89,000 over the quarter to reach 726,000.
The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance dropped between February and March to reach 1.54 million.