The rate of unemployment continued its upward trend in November, the latest statistics show today.
The seasonally adjusted Live Register shows the number of people claiming unemployment benefits increased by 2,200 to 165,000.
November's rise means the claimant count has increased by 11,515 (up 7.8 per cent) in the year to November 2002.
The standardised unemployment rate in November was 4.4 per cent from 4.3 per cent in October.