UK unemployment reaches new highs, ONS data shows

Unemployment in the UK reaches the highest level in more than three years, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Between June and August, there were approximately 1.5 million people unemployed, according to the ONS.

Young people aged between 16 and 24-years-old, make up a "disproportionate" 60% of the fall in employment, says Jonathan Athow, the ONS's deputy national statistician for economic statistics.

The ONS data shows that the industries that are taking the brunt of the redundancies include hospitality and travel.

This comes as the coronavirus pandemic continues to batter businesses, a battering that may only increase with the government's new three-tiered system.

Paul Dales, the chief UK economist from Capital Economics, says that "the prospect of the latest Covid-19 restrictions leading to the economic recovery stalling, if not going into reverse, means worse lies ahead".

Moreover, as the furlough scheme is replaced next month, with a less well-paid system, unemployment is expected to rise even further towards Christmas.