More grim news on rising dole queues is due, with official figures set to show UK unemployment approaching 2.5 million in the three months to July.
Unemployment is currently running at 14-year highs due to the impact of recession but has not topped 2.5 million since November 1994.
The human cost of the slump will also be underlined with the number of 16-24 year olds out of work edging closer to the landmark of one million - sparking fears of a new 'lost generation' of young people.
Union-backed group Youth Fight for Jobs is due to protest outside Parliament, displaying a giant CV with skills not being used because of the recession.
The Government has promised jobs or training to those 18-24 year olds who have been out of work for more than a year, but the action group says this does not go far enough.
Organiser Sean Figg said: "The vast bulk of placements they are offering are available only to long term 18-24 year olds, and are explicitly limited to six months - what about the rest of unemployed young people?"
Youth unemployment is set to spiral further in the months ahead as former students and school leavers enter the worst jobs market in a generation.
And even as the recession ends, experts say the resumption of growth will not bring any significant cheer in job prospects for at least a year.
Economist Howard Archer, of IHS Global Insight, said: "Unemployment still looks likely to reach 3 million in 2010, and could go higher.
Read More
"Unemployment is a lagging indicator and the sharp overall economic contraction suffered between the second quarter of 2008 and the second quarter of 2009 will continue to weigh down on the labour market for an extended period."
