The jobless total has risen above two million for the first time since 1997, as the recession takes a hold. Figures from ONS show that the jobless total, the jobless rate, and the number claiming benefit have all increased, while the number of vacancies has fallen. 

The unemployment rate was 6.7 per cent for the three months to February 2009, representing a total of 2.1 million people out of work - an increase of 177,000 over the quarter and of 486,000 over the year. Full details at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/cci/nugget.asp?id=12