In Britain, the number of people unemployed rose by 43,000 to 2.5 million during the three months to February. The jobless total is now at its highest since 1994. <br/><br/>The Office for National Statistics said the rate of unemployment now stands at 8 per cent, the highest since 1996. <br/><br/>However, the total number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in March by 32,900 to 1.54 million – a much sharper fall than expected. <br/><br/>The ONS figures showed youth unemployment rising, with 929,000 16 to 24-year-olds out of work in the December to February period – a rise of 4,000 on the previous three months. Unemployment among the over-50s rose by 7,000 to 396,000.<br/>