Unemployment fell by 14,000 between October and December to 2.50 million, and the unemployment rate is down to 7.8%, today’s labour market statistics reveal.
Unemployment fell by 14,000 between October and December to 2.50 million, and the unemployment rate is down to 7.8%, today’s labour market statistics reveal.
The headline figures are:
• The employment rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 71.5%, up 0.3 on July to September 2012 and up 1.1 on a year earlier. There were 29.73 million people in employment aged 16 and over, up 154,000 on July to September 2012 and up 584,000 on a year earlier.
• The unemployment rate was 7.8% of the economically active population, down 0.1 on July to September 2012 and down 0.6 on a year earlier. There were 2.50 million unemployed people, down 14,000 on July to September 2012 and down 156,000 on a year earlier.
• The inactivity rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 22.3%, down 0.2 on July to September 2012 and down 0.8 on a year earlier. There were 8.98 million economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64, down 94,000 on July to September 2012 and down 294,000 on a year earlier.
• Total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.4% compared with October to December 2011. Regular pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.3% compared with October to December 2011.
We will have more detailed reaction later today on Left Foot Forward.
Left Foot Forward doesn't have the backing of big business or billionaires. We rely on the kind and generous support of ordinary people like you.
You can support hard-hitting journalism that holds the right to account, provides a forum for debate among progressives, and covers the stories the rest of the media ignore. Donate today.
