UK unemployment figures rose again in the three months between May and June, taking the number out of work to 1.72m.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics revealed an extra 81,000 people became unemployed during that time, with the number claiming jobseeker's allowance also rising by 32,500 to 904,900.

"Unemployment is starting to accelerate and it now looks very likely that total unemployment will reach 2m during 2009," said the TUC's general secretary Brendan Barber.

The CIPD also backed this prediction, adding that the number claiming jobseeker's allowance in 2009 would hit 1m. "With business confidence diminishing almost by the day it is becoming clear that more and more employers are readying themselves for further job cuts," said John Philpott, chief economist.

The number of job vacancies also fell as companies scaled back expansion plans and failed to replace people who left.