Youth unemployment reached a record high of 20 per cent today as the number of people without a job in the United Kingdom rose to 2.46 million.

The number of people out of work increased by 30,000 between July and September with the number on jobseeker’s allowance rising by 12,900 in October to 1.64 million, the 20th consecutive monthly increase, giving the worst total for 12 years.

Shropshire and Mid Wales bucked the trend for the second month in a row, with the jobless total dropping from 11,808 to 11,573.

The number of people claiming jobseeker’s allowance in Shropshire dropped to 4,836 from 4,922 in September. Telford & Wrekin’s total dropped by 166 to 4,640 in October from 4,806 the previous month. Powys did see a small rise of 17 from 2,080 claimants to 2,097.

Nationally, full-time employment fell by 80,000 to 21 million, while part-time employment increased by 86,000 to a record high of 7.6 million.

Other data from the Office for National Statistics showed that job vacancies fell by 1,000 to 428,000 in the latest quarter, the lowest level since records began in 2001.

And youth unemployment also continued to rise, with the number of 16 to 24-year-olds up by 15,000 to 943,000, a record high.

But there was some glimmer of economic hope for the UK as new figures revealed the number of mortgages approved for home-buyers were up 43 per cent on the same time last year.

The number of mortgages advanced for house purchase rose by two per cent during September after dipping in August, the Council of Mortgage Lenders said.