British unemployment hits 17-year high at 8.4%

Britain's unemployment rate rose to 8.4% in the three months to November, the highest level for 17 years, official data showed today.

Britain's unemployment rate rose to 8.4% in the three months to November, the highest level for 17 years, official data showed on Wednesday.

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"The unemployment rate was 8.4% of the economically active population, up 0.3 (percentage points) on the quarter," the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

"There were 2.68 million unemployed people, up 118,000 on the quarter. The unemployment rate has not been higher since 1995 and the number of unemployed people has not been higher since 1994," the ONS added.