UK Official Unemployment Rises to 7.8%

(AFP) – Britain’s unemployment rate edged higher to 7.8 percent in the three months to the end of December from 7.7 percent in quarter to the end of November, official data showed on Wednesday.

The number of unemployed people rose to 2.50 million from 2.49 million over the same period, the Office for National Statistics added in a statement.

Despite more people claiming benefits, employment hit a record high, with 29.73 million people in work at the end of December, the ONS added.