Analysis shows that UK unemployment is rising faster than any other OECD country.

According to a report by the Trades Union Congress, the UK has the highest rate of unemployment among the 38 richest countries in the world.

The union group released a statement a day before the official figures on the labour market are expected to show a further increase in unemployment in Britain. They looked at the data collected by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development for the first three month of this year.

The report found that only Costa Rica, out of the 38 countries in the group, experienced a similar increase in the number people who lost their jobs from the beginning of January to the end of the month of March.

The TUC stated that every region in the UK is affected by rising unemployment, and a declining number of job openings. This illustrates the disruption of the labour market caused by employers who are unable to find workers with the required skills, and the rising rate of unemployment.

The Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) figures, which will be released on Tuesday, are expected to show that unemployment has increased in recent months. This would contradict Rishi Sunak’s claim that the economy was growing strongly.

Last month, the ONS confirmed that the economy has exited the recession of last year, increasing by 0.6% during the first quarter. Surveys of business leaders also show a rising level of confidence in economic growth prospects. The consumer confidence level has also increased this year due to the increase in average disposable incomes.

Employers have stated that they want to reduce headcount despite the economic recovery. Separate research from the Chartered Institute of Management found that more UK employers had plans to impose hiring freezes and make redundant roles in the first quarter of this year than they did in the same time period last year.

In a survey conducted by CMI of less than 1,000 British managers, 35% said they planned to freeze (21%) and reduce (14%) their recruitment over the next six months. The combined total for the same time period last year was 24%. In summer 2022, it was only 15%. This shows a trend of increasing employers who want to reduce or restrict staff numbers.

Three in five managers (60%) attributed the decision to reduce or freeze recruitment to a worsening of revenues or increasing costs. Meanwhile, 55% cited reorganization to reduce costs and 34% cited increased economic uncertainty.

One-fifth of managers cited the higher pay of staff (19%), while a smaller percentage (13%) cited the increasing use of digital technologies and automation.

Three-quarters of public sector employers said budget cuts were their main reason for reducing staff.

The study will increase concerns about the long-term outlook for the economy among Bank of England policymakers. At a meeting scheduled for later this month, the central bank’s monetary committee will decide whether or not to lower interest rates from current levels of 5.25%.

The ONS released its latest labour market report last month. It reported that the number of job openings in the country had decreased by 26,000. This was a drop from 898,000 to 896,00 over the three-month period ending April.

Paul Nowak, the TUC’s general secretary, said that the ONS analysis and the poor jobs figures showed “just how out-of-touch Rishi Sunak is and his government – and this complacency costs Britain dear”. He added: “The Prime Minister’s economic claims are simply laughable.”

The OECD has urged governments to invest in worker skills to increase employment. Many people have left the workforce during the Covid-19 pandemic , often due to ill health.

Sunak, the Conservative Party’s election manifesto due for publication on Tuesday, is expected to include measures which, according to reports, will save £12bn by the end next parliament in benefits, by bringing back or keeping workers into the workforce.