Picture used for illustrative purpose. File

Gulf Today Report 

The unemployment rate in the UK surged to its highest level since 2016 as the pandemic effect led to a lot of lay-offs, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday.

The rate rose to 4.8%, surging by 0.3 per cent from last month and a full percentage from a year earlier.

The number of people payrolls list has declined by 782, 000 since the beginning of the pandemic. 

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Today's figures "underline the scale of the challenge we’re facing,’’ Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said in a statement.

"I know that this is a tough time for those who have sadly already lost their jobs, and I want to reassure anyone that is worried about the coming winter months that we will continue to support those affected and protect the lives and livelihoods of people across this country,’’ Sunak said