The number of people out of work in the UK rose by 177,000 between December and February to bring the total number to 2.1m, according to the Office for National Statistics.

The amount of people claiming jobless benefits also increased last month by 73,700, bringing the total number of claimants to just under 1.5m. In the first quarter of 2009 there were 462,000 job vacancies - the lowest figure since records began in 2001.

"Labour have reached another grim milestone with unemployment now higher than when they came to power. This government are sleepwalking through this unemployment crisis recklessly casting millions of people adrift," said Shadow work and pensions secretary, Theresa May.