UNEMPLOYMENT in the North West increased by 24,000 in the three months to August - the highest increase in the country.
The Office for National Statistics figures showed a total of 294,000 people were unemployed in the region between June and August.
The region's unemployment rate rose from 8.6 per cent to 8.9 per cent during the period. making it the worst area in the UK.
The number of people in work nationwide has reached a record high of almost 30 million after a new fall in unemployment.
Just under 2.5 million people were out of work in the three months to August, down by 18,000 on the previous three months, while figures showed the biggest monthly fall in jobseeker's allowance claimants for 16 years.
A fall in unemployed claimants in Pendle in September has welcomed by local Tory MP Andrew Stephenson. The figure was 391 lower than in September 2012 and 48 lower than in August 2013.
He said: “It is great to see unemployment fall again this month. The Government still needs to do more to help those who are out of work, but it is clear that the economy is picking up.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here