Total unemployment is now higher than at any point during the recession causing industry experts to warn the private sector jobs market recovery has "stalled".

In a series of grim figures delivering a pre-Christmas blow to the Government, the jobless toll for all age groups rose by 128,000 between August and October to 2.64m, the highest total since 1994.

The unemployment rate was 8.3pc, up 0.4pc on the previous three months, said the Office for National Statistics.

The number of women out of work surged by 45,000 on the quarter to reach 1.1m, the highest figure since 1988.

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