A sharp rise in the number of people unemployed in June pushed the rate to its highest level since 2003.
The number of people unemployed rose by 12,353 from May to 166,363. The number on the Live Register usually rises in June, but the seasonally adjusted figure also rose sharply, by 3,600 to 163,400.
The unemployment rate was 4.6%, the highest level since September 2003.
The last quarterly National Household Survey, which is regarded as a more accurate measure of unemployment, recorded 4.4% for the first three months of the year.
A breakdown showed the Live Register numbers rose in all regions, with the largest increases of 9.4% coming in the midlands and west regions.
