The unemployment rate in the UK rose to 7.1% for the first quarter in 2009, with a total of 2.2 million people out of work, 244,000 more than the previous quarter and up 592,000 more than a year ago, according to the latest figures from the UK Office for National Statistics.

The unemployment rate of 7.1% is the highest rate since 1991, and forecasts predict the number of people out of work to exceed 2.5 million by the summer.

“Unemployment is the country’s number one emergency and the government must use all possible means to address it,” said Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress.

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