Official labour market statistics for the October-December 2010 quarter published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that there are 2.49 million people unemployed, a rise of 44,000 in the three months to December.

Also, over 20% of those aged 24 and under are now unemployed, the highest level since comparable records began in 1992.

Debt charity Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has warned that job loss significantly deepens personal debt problems.

A quarter of people contacting CCCS for help in 2010 were in financial difficulty due to unemployment and almost 11% were claiming Jobseekers Allowance (JSA).

On average, CCCS clients claiming JSA owe £15,816 in unsecured debt, close to double the national average. The charity says that the shock to family finances caused by unemployment can force thousands of people into unmanageable debt just to keep afloat. Last year, unemployed clients had a shortfall of £2,436 in the money needed to cover the costs of day-to-day living.

Delroy Corinaldi, CCCS external affairs director, said: “With almost 2.5 million people currently unemployed