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Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the amount of people without a job rose by 220,000 in the three months to the end of June, resulting in the highest unemployment tally since 1995.
As a result, the jobless rate is now 7.8 per cent and there was also an increase in the proportion of the population claiming employment benefits, with this figure rising to 1.58 billion.
Shadow work and pensions secretary at the Liberal Democrats Steve Webb urged the government to take action and offer more support to those that cannot find jobs.
"The widening gap between the number of unemployed people and the number of people claiming benefits shows vulnerable people aren't getting the help they need," he stated.
Average earnings excluding bonuses climbed by the slowest rate since ONS records began during the three-month period, rising by 2.5 per cent.
