Unemployment continues to rise, as people continue to fear job security.

UK unemployment has reached 2.38 million, with an increase of 281,000 over the last quarter – the largest rise since comparable records began in 1971. The figure has increased by 753,000 over the past year.

According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), the amount of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has increased by 23,800, soaring to 1.56 million – its highest number since 1997.

A look at the number of job vacancies also continues to paint a bleak picture. To June 2009 there were only 429,000 job vacancies; once again the lowest figure since comparable records began in 2001. All sectors have shown a drop in vacancies with, unsurprisingly given recent job cut announcements, the largest fall occurring in the finance and business sectors.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC commented on the news: “Today’s figures are truly horrendous. The people who have lost their jobs this month and who fear they will in months to come are not talking of recovery or green shoots.

“With a new generation of school and college leavers soon starting to look for work, our unemployment crisis will get even bigger.”

No one is immune to the impact of unemployment. According to research commissioned by BBC Radio 5 Live, which was released today (15 July), two thirds of people personally know someone who has lost their job, and four in ten people are worried about losing their own job.

The survey, conducted by ComRes, did however reveal that the recession has changed people’s perceptions towards money and Britain as a whole. 73% of those surveyed said they are “more inclined to think there’s more to life than money and possessions.”

Last week (9 July), it was revealed that unemployment figures in Australia had reached a six year high of 5.8%.