A Christian charity has said the Church has a "big role to play" after unemployment rose by more than 21,000.
It now stands at around 1.7 million, and today's jump between December and February signals the first rise since Summer last year.
Wages increased by 1.8% in the year to February - less than the year to January where they rose by 2.1%.
Some say the slowdown in wage growth and the rise in unemployment could be signalling an end to recovery in the economy.
Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has reported an increase in the number of people using its Job Clubs to help them find work.
Speaking on Premier's News Hour, Paul Archer, from CAP said: "The plight of those guys, especially the long-term unemployed, just cannot be underestimated.
"I think the Church has a really important role in being able to help people like that who're still stuck in unemployment to be able to overcome those barriers and get into work.
"You sometimes get very, very skilled people who have been out of work for a little while and it just destroys your confidence.
"The need is massive; the Church has a big role to play.
Listen to Premier's Aaron James speaking to Paul Archer:
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Article by Aaron James
Tola Mbakwe is a multimedia journalist for Premier.
