UK unemployment rises to 6.7%

LONDON: Unemployment in Britain rose to 6.7 per cent in the three months through February, up from 6.5 per cent in the quarter through January, government data showed on Wednesday, as companies hit by the recession continued to lay off workers.

The number of people counted as unemployed rose to 2.1 million in the period compared with 2.03 million in the three months ending in January, the Office for National Statistics said.

Annual earnings growth was just 0.1 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent, the agency said.

The number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased for the 13th month, rising 73,700 to 1.46 million in the latest report.

The number of manufacturing jobs fell to a record low of 2.75 million, and the number of people with full time jobs dropped to 21.74 million, 81,000 fewer than in the previous quarter.

The impact of unemployment showed in another report on Wednesday, with government revenue from taxes on income and wealth falling by 18 per cent compared to a year ago.