In a recent report, it was revealed that the unemployment rate in the country has risen to 8.5%, with over 2.5 million people currently out of work. This represents a significant increase from the previous month, where the rate was at 7.2%. The report also highlighted that the number of job losses in the manufacturing sector has been particularly high, with over 500,000 jobs lost in the past quarter. Experts are attributing this rise in unemployment to the ongoing economic downturn caused by the global pandemic. The government has stated that they are working on implementing measures to help stimulate job growth and support those who have been affected by the current economic situation.