The analysis shows it is increasingly difficult for employees under 24 and over 50 to find work once they lose their jobs.
There has been a 12.8% quarterly increase in the number of young people unemployed for up to 6 months (390,000 under-24s) and a 6% increase in the number of young people out of work for 6 to12 months (80,000).
There has also been a 29.7% quarterly increase in the number of workers over 50 out of work in the past six to 12 months.
In September 156,000 people were made redundant - a 22.6% increase over the last quarter.
Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, said: "These are dire figures. High unemployment is going to be with us for some time now. It is not just an economic problem, but a social problem too. The rise in long-term youth unemployment is particularly worrying."
Young and old unemployed struggle to find work
Longer-term unemployment among young and older workers is growing sharply according to the TUC.
