The number of people claiming the main jobseeking benefits has more than doubled in two months to the highest level since 1993.
Grim new figures show the UK "claimant count" reached 2.8million people in May - up a record 126% or 1.6million since March.
It means the Office for National Statistics claimant count is now the highest since October 1993. For people aged 18-24 it has risen from 235,000 in March to 523,000 in May.
The experimental figures include anyone on either Jobseekers' Allowance, or on Universal Credit and required to search for work.
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