The number of unemployed people in Britain has risen for the first time in nearly three years, official figures today show.
But workers are seeing their wages increase, with average earnings up 2.5 per cent last year, according to the latest estimates.
The unemployment rate rose by 46,000 between October and December to 1.47 million, the Office for National Statistics said.
It is the first time the number has gone up since June 2015 and the biggest rise and the biggest rise since September 2011.
But the number of people in jobs also rose by 88,000 to 32.15 million in October to December 2017.
The number of unemployed people in Britain has risen for the first time in nearly three years. official figures today show.
This was driven by an increase in the number of British-born workers with a job, rather than by migration, the ONS said.
Senior ONS statistician Matt Hughes said: ‘While this is the sharpest increase in the unemployment level ONS has seen in almost five years, the number of people in work has continued to rise and there are fewer ‘economically inactive’ people – those neither working nor looking for a job.
‘Earnings continue to grow more slowly than prices.
‘Rising employment this past year was largely driven by UK nationals.
‘In particular, fewer citizens of the eastern European countries that joined the EU in 2004 and of non-EU countries were in work than in the year before.
‘But it’s important to remember these figures simply look at the number of people in work, and aren’t a measure of migration.’
The ONS said the rise in unemployment has been driven by a growing number if young people who are not able to find work.
While the growth in employment was driven by a boom in the number of higher-skilled and professional jobs.
While there has also been rise in the number of part time workers in these higher-skilled jobs has also risen.
Employment Minister Alok Sharma said: ‘High employment rates are a reliable feature of today’s economy – and this is an incredible achievement.
‘It is equally important that, across society, everyone has the opportunity to get a good job, and get on in life.
‘Today’s figures show that this government is building a fairer economy that supports people from all backgrounds to get into work.’
The figures will be a blow to Theresa May’s Government, who say the Tories are the only party that can be trusted with the economy.’
The figures will be a blow to Theresa May (pictured at a speech in Derby on Monday) who say the Tories are the only party that can be trusted with the economy.
Meanwhile, a poll has found that almost four-fifths of British workers expect to become poorer over the coming year.
The report by left-leaning think tank Class found that the UK was becoming ‘an overworked and underpaid nation’.
It said a survey of 2,000 workers carried out by pollsters Survation for the report showed ‘alarming’ levels of stress due to longer hours and lower pay.
While more than half of those polled said they had seen their workloads increase over the past 12 months.
Just 25% of those questioned said they believed the economy was working for them, and two out of five households said they had taken on a second job or were seriously considering doing so to help make ends meet.