Demand Side Policies.
Undoubtedly, the main cause of unemployment is the current recession and output gap. With demand falling, firms have spare capacity and so are employing less workers. This is why we have:
0.5% interest rates
expansionary fiscal policy
Quantitative easing.
The problem is that these three demand side policies have been unable to stem the rise in unemployment. This does not mean they have been a complete failure. Without these policies to boost demand, the unemployment rate would be higher. The problem is these policies take time to have an effect.