Unemployment rises to 2.4m

Unemployment in the UK has increased by 220,000 to reach 2.4m in the quarter to June, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics.

The number of people out of work is now at its highest level since 1995 and the jobless rate stands at 7.8%. The number of claims for unemployment benefit also grew in in July by 24,900 from June and now stands at 1.5m.

The figures also revealed that average earnings - excluding bonuses - have risen at the slowest rate since records began in 2001.

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