Britain's rate of unemployment has unexpectedly risen as vacancies slumped to their lowest level for five years amid a sharp pull back in hiring across under-pressure retail and hospitality sectors, according to official figures.The Office for National Statistics said the jobless rate rose to 5% in the three months to March, up from 4.9% in the three months to February.Most economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged.

Britain's rate of unemployment has unexpectedly risen as vacancies slumped to their lowest level for five years amid a sharp pull back in hiring across under-pressure retail and hospitality sectors, according to official figures.The Office for National Statistics said the jobless rate rose to 5% in the three months to March, up from 4.9% in the three months to February.Most economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged.