Unemployment increased by 118,000 between September and November 2011 to 2.68 million, according to new figures.
The Office for National Statistics said the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance last month increased by 1,200 to 1.6 million.
Meanwhile, average earnings increased by 1.9 per cent in the year to November, 0.2 per cent down on the previous month.
Unions have blasted the figures and say ministers must do more to tackle the jobs crisis.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "These figures are even worse than the bleak economic forecasts predicted, with new records achieved for youth and female unemployment.
"The fear is now that mass joblessness becomes a permanent scar on the UK - with unemployment rising by 1,300 a day towards the end of last year."
"Ministers must start putting forward bold solutions to address this crisis, starting with a job guarantee for any young person out of work for six months," he added.
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