The TUC has said that total unemployment figures could be almost double the official estimates.
The union organisation said that, once groups such as the economically inactive are added to the total, unemployment figures could be up to 2.26 million higher than the current official 2.5 million.
Employment Minister Mark Hoban said it showed the unions were "out of touch".
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "Unemployment may have started to fall in recent months but we are still in the midst of a job crisis. The true scale of unemployment is far bigger than official figures suggest, as nearly five million people say they want work today.
"With a further 1.4 million people only able to find part-time work, despite needing a full-time job to get by, it's clear that our labour market remains far from full health."
