The number of people claiming jobless benefits in Britain leapt in November by the biggest monthly amount for more than 17 years.
The claimant count soared by 75,700 from October to 1.07 million people, the Office for National Statistics said. That was the biggest increase since March 1991 and took the total number to the highest level since July 2000.
The count has now risen for 10 months in a row amid a sharp economic slowdown in Britain. Analysts' consensus forecasts had been for a smaller gain of 45,000 in November.
In reaction the gloomy data, the euro surged to a new record high against sterling, hitting a level of over 91 pence sterling.
The ONS added that Britain's unemployment rate climbed to 6% in the three months to October.
Under the International Labour Organisation (ILO) measure of unemployment, the rate had stood at 5.5% for the three months to July.
According to the British government's preferred measure of unemployment, the rate stood at 3.3% in November, which compared with a revised 3.1% in October.
Global downturn hitting Northern Ireland jobs
Meanwhile, the North has experienced the largest monthly increase in those claiming unemployment benefit in almost 30 years.
Economy Minister Arlene Foster said the latest official figures showed the global downturn was making an impact.
New figures today show that the number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased by 3,100 during November to 34,100. This was the largest monthly increase in 28 years.
The construction industry accounted for approximately one third of the rise.
There was also a large fall in the number of jobs between June and September this year. These losses have been more widely spread among other sectors.
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was almost unchanged at 4.3%, which is below the UK average of 6% and compares with 6.6% in the Republic in September.
