The number of people out of work in Britain has hit 1.79m and there are warnings that the figure is set to hit 2m before the year is out.

The figures announced today reveal that 5.7% of the workforce is now unemployed, with the number of Jobseeker’s allowance claimants now reaching 939,900 in September, according to the Office of National Statistics.

The rise from 5.2% represents the biggest single increase in unemployment since 1991 and has been blamed on the current economic downturn – particularly in the property industry.