The unemployment rate in Britain has hit 7.6 percent, the highest since January 1997 although the number of people claiming jobless benefits was much less than expected in June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported on July 15.
It said the jobless rate in the March-May period increased by 0.9 percent over the previous three months and up by 2.4 percent compared with the same period last year.
The ONS data also showed that unemployment claims rose by 23,800 in June, much less than analysts' forecast of 40,500.
The Economist said last month unemployment in the country will keep rising long after the recession ends although there were fresh signs that the country's economic outlook may be brightening.
The jobless rate has gone up from 5.4 percent in spring 2008 and the Economist predicted the rate will continue rising and will almost certainly go above 10 percent.
