Largest Fall In Unemployment Since Records Began

The unemployment rate continued to fall during the period June to August reaching 6% the lowest since 2008. There were 1.97m unemployed people, 154,000 fewer than in March to May and 538,000 fewer than last year. It is the largest fall in unemployment since records began in 1972. There were 9.03m people out of work and economically inactive. The economic inactivity rate was 22.2%, up on the previous three months but lower than last year.

There were 30.76m people in employment, 46,000 more than in the period March to May and 736,000 more than last year. The employment rate was 73% up on the 72.9% of March to May and the 71.5% of the same time last year. There was an increase in the number of workforce jobs by 285,000 from the March to May period to 33.26m in June to August, up 1.12m on last year.

Average weekly earnings in August increased over both the last three months and over the year. Average regular pay for employees was £452/week before tax, up 0.9% and average total pay before tax was £479/week, up 0.7%.

The lowest number of people to have claimed unemployment related benefits was in December 1973 at 422,600 and the highest was in July 1986 at 3.09m. The number people of claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) for the latest month, September 2014, was 951,000.

Vacancies estimates increased to 674,000 for July to September 2014, up 18,000 from April to June and 130,000 from last year (Figures from the ONS).