Employment's General Trend Continues For Another Month

There was an increase in employment and an fall in unemployment and in the number of economically inactive people. The number of unemployed people in the period February to April 2014 was 2.16m, 161,000 fewer between February and April 2014 than between for November to January. The unemployment rate was 6.6% down from 7.2% for November to January and down by 7.8% on a year earlier.

There were 30.54m people, or 72.9%, in work, up 345,000 on the number for November 2013 to January 2014 and 780,000 more than a year earlier. There were also 8.82m economically inactive people (out of work but not seeking or available for work) 80,000 fewer than for November 2013 to January 2014.

Between February to April 2013 and February to April 2014 the number of employees increased by 457,000 to 25.75m. the number of self-employed people increased by 337,000 to 4.45m, the number of unpaid family workers increased by 22,000 to 127,000 and the number of people on Government supported schemes decreased by 37,000 to 120,000.

There were 1.58m people employed in the NHS, up 10,000, 1.07m people working in public administration, 1.52m people working in education and 423,000 employed in HM Forces and the police.

Estimates of nationality between January to March 2013 and January to March 2014 suggest the number of UK nationals working in the UK increased by 563,000 to reach 27.57m and the number of non-UK nationals working in the UK increased by 178,000 to reach 2.77m. The number of UK born people working in the UK increased by 447,000 to reach 25.77m and the number of non-UK born people working in the UK increased by 292,000 to reach 4.55m.

There were 33.05m workforce jobs (jobs filled which is different from the number of people employed because some people have more than one job) in March 2014 up 380,000 from December 2013 and 1.08m on a year earlier.

Average total pay increased by 0.7% over the year and average regular pay increased by 0.9%. Average total pay was £478/week before tax and average regular pay was £449/week.

There were 637,000 job vacancies (positions to be filled from outside the business or organisation) for March to May 2014. This was 39,000 up from December 2013 to February 2014, 116,000 up on a year earlier but 59,000 down on the pre-downturn peak of 696,000 for January to March 2008.

There were 4.25m people claiming key out of work benefits, the lowest figure since records began in 1999, down 390,000 from November 2012 and down 850,000 from the peak of 5.10m for February 2010.

The duration of unemployment varies and in recorded by the ONS. Some 1.03m people had been unemployed for up to six months, 345,000 people had been unemployed for between six and twelve months, 791 people had been unemployed for over a year, 430,000 people had been unemployed for over two years. The numbers in all of these categories has fallen over the most recent recorded period ie. November 2013 to January 2014 and over the last year.

Unemployment Up By 0.1%

The employment rate went down by 0.2% (43,000) on the period from October to December and January to March 2013 but up 0.8% on the year. The unemployment rate increased by 0.1% to 7.8% over the same period, but was down 0.4% on the year. The number of unemployed people increased by 15,000 to 2.52m from October to December 2012 and January to March 2013, but fell by 92,000 fewer over the year.

There were 503,000 job vacancies for February to April 2013, up 40,000 on a year earlier. In terms of duration, 18% had been unemployed for over two years but almost half (47%) had been unemployed for six months or less. The rest were between the two, six months to two years unemployed.

Total pay rose by 0.4% and regular pay by 0.8%. Both measures have not seen lower growth indicators for some years. Average total pay was £463/week and average regular pay was £444/week.

Unemployment Down In October

The unemployment rate fell to 7.8% in October, a fall of 0.2% on May to July. The employment rate (16-64) was 71.2% up 0.1% on May to July. The number of unemployed was 2.51m, down 82,000 on the three monthly comparison and 128,000 on the year. The inactivity rate was 22.6%, or an economically inactive population of 9.07m (16-64) up 60,000 on the three months previous but down 249,000 on last year. There were 489,000 job vacancies for September to November 2012 or 1.8 vacancies per 100 employee jobs. In terms of duration, 1.16m people had been unemployed for up to 6 months, 442,000 people had been unemployed for between 6 and 12 months and 904,000 had been unemployed for over 1 year and 449,000 people had been unemployed for over 2 years. Total hours worked amounted to 949m for August to October 2012 and average weekly hours worked were 32.1. Earnings or payment for work done before tax and other deductions averaged (incl. bonuses) £471/week total pay and £443/week regular pay. The number of employees reached 25.12m, the self-employed totalled 4.2m, unpaid family workers reached 111,000 and the number of people on government schemes totalled 171,000.