UK unemployment continues to rise with hundreds of thousands more jobless

New figures have shown that UK unemployment has risen further during the three months up to August as a result of COVID-19 disruption.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed that the number of unemployed people increased by 138,000 over the three month period.

Unemployment across the country increased by 4.5 per cent, with the North East having the highest regional unemployment rate estimate at 6.6 per cent.

The new figures show an unemployment increase from 4.1 per cent the previous month, taking the total unemployed to 1.52 million.

Jonathan Athow, ONS deputy national statistician for economic statistics, commented: “Since the start of the pandemic there has been a sharp increase in those out of work and job hunting but more people telling us they are not actively looking for work.

“There has also been a stark rise in the number of people who have recently been made redundant.”