I don't think so, jno:
Labour Market Statistics:
December 14 2012 - The unemployment rate stands at 7.8% - down 0.2% over the quarter and 0.5% over the year. 29.60 million people were in work in August to October 2012 according to the labour force survey (LFS). The number of people employed was 40,000 higher this quarter and 499 ,000 higher than last year.
The working age employment rate is 71.2% - up 0.1% on the last quarter and up 0.9% over the year.
ILO-defined unemployment in August to October 2012 was 2.51 million (7.8%) - down by 82,000 on the previous quarter and 129,000 on the same quarter last year.
And crucially (for this debate, anyway):
The claimant count for key out-of-work benefits was 1,575,000 in November - down by 3,000 on the previous month and down 20,900 on the year.
So whatever it is that is driving the benefit bill up, it does not appear to be an increasing number of jobless.