Unemployment jumps to 1.7 million in first rise since last summer
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Carl Dinnen.
Unemployment rose by 21,000 to 1.7 million between December and February - the first such rise in almost a year, new figures reveal.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the UK's unemployment rate is now 5.1% - down by 0.5% on a year ago and the lowest since 2005.
The sluggish job market could reflect uncertainty about the outcome of the EU referendum.
Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb told ITV News: "It’s becoming increasing clear – and every piece of independent economic analysis demonstrates this – that leaving the single market would have a knock-on impact in terms of the economy. This will mean jobs being lost and families being hit hard."
Employment increased by just 20,000 in the latest quarter to 31.4 million - the smallest rise since last summer. Average earnings also rose by 1.8% in the year to February - 0.3% down on the previous month.
Male employment was almost 16.8 million - the highest since records began in 1971.
There were 14.6 million women in work - down by 40,000 on the previous three months and the first fall since autumn 2012. The quarterly reduction in women's employment was the biggest in five years.
ONS figures also reveal that the number of people claiming unemployment-related benefits increased by 6,700 in March to 732,100 - the first monthly rise since last August.
Meanwhile, the number of people who are self-employed increased by 120,000 to a near record 4.6 million. The number of people on government training and employment programmes fell by 9,000 to 102,000.