TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "Today's figures show the economy is still on a knife edge. While the overall quarterly figures are encouraging, the data suggests there has been sharper rise in unemployment more recently. This shows how vital it is the Government continues to dedicate significant resources to tackling joblessness.
"Government investment to help people off the dole and stimulate the economy has ensured that joblessness has not spiralled out of control in the way it did in earlier recessions. But this is no time for complacency, especially while many - particularly the young - still remain out of work.
"It would be madness to cut the resources dedicated to helping the unemployed, as some are suggesting, when the medicine is only just beginning to make an impact."
