The number of people unemployed in the UK rose by 53,000 to 2.51 million during the three months to March, official figures have shown.
The unemployment total is now at its highest level since December 1994.
However, the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in April by 27,100 to 1.52 million – a sharper fall than expected.
The rate of unemployment remained at 8%, the Office for National Statistics said.
