Commenting on the unemployment figures out today, UNISON general secretary, Dave Prentis, said: “This rise in unemployment is further proof that the chancellor has lost his grip on the economy.
“Every job lost is a personal tragedy and yet, compared to pre-crisis levels, there are a million more people facing the misery of unemployment in the UK. The government has failed every single one of these people.
“And the consequences of holding down public sector pay are being felt on the high street. Local shops and businesses are suffering because workers have nothing left at the end of the month.
“The government has to start taking effective action to turn our economy around. It must stop the public sector jobs carnage – more than 400 jobs are lost from the sector every single day. Instead of targeting benefits, the government must focus on creating jobs.