By the end of last week, a total of 199,359 people were registered as unemployed, an increase of 25,338 compared to the same period a year earlier.
The number of people on supported employment amounted to 74,877 last week, down 15,459 on the same period in 2007.
There were also 82,091 people participating in employment support programmes, which represented an increase of 25,225 compared to December 2007.
Last week, 3,184 new jobs were advertised with the agency, 6,552 fewer than the corresponding week a year ago.