UK unemployment total reaches 17-year high

UK unemployment rose by 114,000 between June and August to 2.57 million, a 17-year high, BBC reported citing official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the unemployment rate also increased to 8.1%.

The jobless total for 16 to 24-year-olds hit a record high of 991,000 in the quarter, a jobless rate of 21.3%.

Alan Clarke, of Scotia Capital, said the figures were a "disaster."

He added: "That (the data) shouldn't come as a surprise because the economy is growing at half the pace it needs to keep unemployment stable.”