Unemployment increased in Oxfordshire during the past month, as the jobless total nationwide reached its highest level since 1999.

In August, there were 4,401 people claiming Jobseekers' Allowance in Oxfordshire, up by nearly 10 per cent from 4,007 in July.

However, the increase in claimants in September slowed in comparison with August's figure over that of July's, with the total number up from 4,401 to 4,423, an increase of 0.5 per cent.

The year-on-year figure for Oxfordshire in September showed 728 more claimants than last year's total of 3,695 — up 19.7 per cent.

Nationwide, a total of 1.79 million people were out of work in the quarter to August, an unemployment rate of 5.7 per cent, up by 0.5 per cent over the quarter and the highest since spring 2000.

The quarterly increase of 164,000 in the number of people out of work, including those not eligible for benefit, was the highest since the summer of 1991, when it jumped by 186,000.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance increased by 31,800 in September to 939,900, the eighth consecutive monthly rise and the highest figure for almost two years.

The total has now risen by 104,900 over the past year.