LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - The number of Britons out of work on the broad, internationally comparable ILO measure rose for the first time in six months in the three months to October, official data showed on Wednesday.
The narrower measure of people claiming unemployment benefit, meanwhile, fell by less than expected in November, highlighting the vulnerability of the labour market even before the government's spending squeeze kicks in.
The Office for National Statistics said the number of people without a job rose by 35,000 to more than 2.5 million in the three months to October -- the first rise since the three months to April and the biggest rise since the three months to March.
The jobless rate also rose for the first time in six months to 7.9 percent -- surprising analysts who had expected the rate to hold steady at 7.7 percent
The number of Britons claiming unemployment benefit fell by 1,200 in November, less than half the fall expected, but there was a favourable revision to October's figure to show a decline of 5,200. Last month's release had shown a drop of 3,700 for October.
Wage growth picked up slightly but remained well below inflation. Average weekly earnings growth including bonuses rose by 2.2 percent in the three months to October, the fast est rate since May. Excluding bonuses, earnings rose by 2.3 percent, the fastest rate since March 2009.