Young people bearing the brunt as jobless rate hits 5.1% ahead of Budget

Economists said uncertainty ahead of the November 26 Budget had weighed on the jobs market (Alamy/PA) -

Britain’s jobs market showed further signs of weakening in the lead up to last month’s Budget as official figures revealed the unemployment rate lifting to its highest level since early 2021 and young people among the hardest hit.

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.