Unemployment decreased by 63,000 between November 2013 and January 2014 to 2.33 million, with the unemployment rate now at 7.2 per cent, today’s labour market statistics reveal.

Unemployment decreased by 63,000 between November 2013 and January 2014 to 2.33 million, with the unemployment rate now at 7.2 per cent, today’s labour market statistics reveal.

The headline figures are:

• Latest estimates show that the number of people in employment continued to increase. Unemployment continued to fall, as did the number of economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64. These changes continue the general direction of movement over the past two years.

• Employment was up 105,000 from August to October 2013 and up 459,000 on the year to 30.19 million for November 2013 to January 2014.

• The increase in employment between August to October 2013 and November 2013 to January 2014 was due to more self-employed people; the number of employees fell over this period.

• Employment rate was 72.3% (for people aged from 16 to 64) for November 2013 to January 2014, up from 72.0% for August to October 2013 and from 71.5% the previous year.

• Unemployment was down 63,000 from August to October 2013 and down 191,000 on the year to 2.33 million for November 2013 to January 2014.

• Unemployment rate was 7.2% of the labour force (those unemployed plus those employed) for November 2013 to January 2014, down from 7.4% for August to October 2013 and from 7.8% the previous year.

• The unemployment rate is the same as the figure of 7.2% for October to December 2013 published last month. However it is not directly comparable with that figure, as the Labour Force Survey is not designed to measure monthly changes.

• Pay including bonuses for November 2013 to January 2014 was 1.4% higher than a year earlier, with pay excluding bonuses 1.3% higher.

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