More than 100,000 public sector jobs have been lost over the past year, with people being being laid off far faster than officially predicted, according to a report in today's Guardian (17 March).

Figures from the Office for National Statistics showed a decline of 111,000 in 'general government' workers, 1.9% of the total, during 2010; 66,000 of the jobs were in local government.

In the final quarter of 2010, 45,000 public sector jobs were lost, including 32,000 in schools and colleges. A surprise rise of 9,000 jobs in public administration prompted the newspaper to question whether the government is finding true efficiencies.

The unemployment rate for the three months to January 2011 was 8% of the economically active population, up 0.1% on the quarter.

Unemployment increased by 27,000 over the quarter to reach 2.53 million, the highest figure since 1994.

The number of unemployed 16 to 24 year olds increased by 30,000 on the quarter to reach 974,000, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.

Of those laid off in the last quarter of 2010, 9,000 were in central government, 24,000 in local government, and 12,000 in quangos and other public corporations.