The UK jobless total reached a 17-year high in the three months to October, hitting 2.64 million.
The number of people out of work rose 128,000 in the period while youth unemployment, which covers 16-24 year olds, hit its highest level since records began in 1992 by passing the 1.027 million mark.
The growth was not enough to push the country's unemployment rate higher - still standing at 8.3%.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also showed that benefit claims had risen by far less than expected last month.
There were 3,000 new claimants in November - well short of the 14,000 forecast - which took the total to 1.59 million.
October's increase was also revised down.
Separate ONS statistics showed that public sector employment had dropped to its lowest level since September 2003 in the third quarter, falling by 67,000 to 5.987 million.
The number of people out of work rose 128,000 in the period while youth unemployment, which covers 16-24 year olds, hit its highest level since records began in 1992 by passing the 1.027 million mark.
The growth was not enough to push the country's unemployment rate higher - still standing at 8.3%.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also showed that benefit claims had risen by far less than expected last month.
There were 3,000 new claimants in November - well short of the 14,000 forecast - which took the total to 1.59 million.
October's increase was also revised down.
Separate ONS statistics showed that public sector employment had dropped to its lowest level since September 2003 in the third quarter, falling by 67,000 to 5.987 million.
