UK unemployment rose by 128,000 in the three months to October to 2.64 million, the highest level since 1994.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the jobless rate was 8.3%, up from 7.9% in the previous quarter.
Youth unemployment rose to 1.027 million, the highest since records began in 1992, beating the previous record set only last month.
The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance rose by 3,000 to 1.6 million in November.
However, the rate of increase in the claimant count showed signs of slowing down.