Britain's unemployment rate rose to its highest level for nearly five years and wage growth slipped back further, with young people in particular suffering amid a tough jobs market, official figures have shown. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment rose to 5.1% in the three months to October, up from 5% in the three months to September. This is the highest since the first quarter of 2021 - but with the pandemic era stripped out, it is the highest since early 2016

Britain's unemployment rate rose to its highest level for nearly five years and wage growth slipped back further, with young people in particular suffering amid a tough jobs market, official figures have shown.The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of unemployment rose to 5.1% in the three months to October, up from 5% in the three months to September.This is the highest since the first quarter of 2021 - but with the pandemic era stripped out, it is the highest since early 2016.