LONDON, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The Office for National Statistics in Britain said first time unemployment claims rose for the 11th straight month in December.
In December, 77,900 additional claims were filed, pushing the total of those filing for claims in Britain to 1.16 million. From October through December, the number rose by 160,000, The Times of London reported Wednesday.
The figure that includes those out of work but not filing for benefits climbed to 1.92 million, The Times said.
Mining company BHP Billiton added to labor market worries, announcing Tuesday it would lay off 6,000 workers worldwide.
"The bad news on the labor market is absolutely relentless now," HIS Global Insight chief economist Howard Archer said. "Reports of companies laying off workers are becoming more and more prevalent, while an increasing number of companies are folding," he said.
