Unemployment Continues To Fall

The unemployment rate for July to September was 6% 0.3% lower than April to June and 1.6% lower than last year. There were 1.96m people unemployed, 115,000 fewer than April to June 2014 and 529,000 fewer than last year. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East at 9.2% and lowest in the South East at 4.6%. The economic inactivity rate was 22.2% (9.03m people) about the same as April to June (22.1%) and last year (22.3%). The inactivity rate was highest in Wales at 25.8% and lowest in the East of England at 19.4%.

Average weekly regular pay (excluding bonuses) was £455 per week before tax and other reductions and average total pay (including bonuses) was £481 per week. July to September average regular earnings increased 1.3% over the year and average total earnings were 1% higher than last year. The CPI increased by 1.2%.

The number of JSA claimants has fallen for 24 months in a row and in October was 20,400 down on September 2014 and 373,100 down on last year but is 153,300 higher than the pre-downturn low of 778,400 in February 2008. There were 4.11m people claiming key out of work benefits, 422,400 less than May 2013 and 984,100 less than the 5.10m of February 2010. The claimant count was highest in the North East at 4.7% and lowest in the South East at 1.6%.

There were 687,000 job vacancies in the period August to October 2014, up 22,000 from May to July and 136,000 on last year but 9,000 down on the pre-downturn peak of 696,000 for January to March 2008.

Unemployment Lowest Since 2008

Unemployment continues to fall and employment continues to rise when the figures for May to July are compared with those for February to April 2014.

The unemployment rate fell to 6.2% for May to July the lowest since late 2008. There were 8.93m people out of work and economically inactive, 114,000 more than for February to April but 31,000 less than a year earlier. The economic inactivity rate was 22.3%. There were 30.61m people in work, 74,000 more than in February to April. The employment rate was 73%.

In July, average weekly regular pay (excl. bonuses) was £450/week before tax and insurance and average total pay (incl. bonuses) was £478/week before tax and insurance.

Unemployment Down To 2.12m

The unemployment rate continued to fall during March to May 2014 to reach 6.5%, the lowest since October to December 2008. There were 2.12m people unemployed, 121,000 fewer than December 2013 to February 2014.

The employment rate was 73.1% up from 71% on last year but higher than the pre-downturn peak of 73% for 2008. The number of employees increased by 552,000 to reach 25.83m. The number of self-employed people increased by 404,000 to 4.58m. The number of unpaid family workers increased by 13,000 to reach 117,000. The number of people on government supported training and employment schemes fell by 40,000 to 120,000.

Hours worked per week were 987m march to May 2014, up 14.1m from December to February and up 35m on a year earlier. People working full time worked on average 37.6 hours/week, part-time workers worked on average 16 hours/week. There was little change on a year earlier.

There were 33.05m workforce jobs in March 2014, an increase of 380,000 from December and 1.08m on a year earlier. Workforce jobs is a different concept from employment.

Average regular weekly earnings in May 2014 was £449/week and average total pay was £478/week (both before tax and deductions). Regular pay increased 0.7% over the year, total pay increased 0.3% over the year. Consumer inflation over the year to May 2014 was 1.5%.

Claimant Count figures show that for June 2014 there were 1.04m people claiming JSA, down 36,300 from May 2014 and 418,900 on the year. Claimant Count measures the number of people claiming benefits as a direct result of unemployment. Unemployment measures people without a job seeking work in previous four weeks and available to start in two weeks, and those out of work but have found a job and are waiting to start within two weeks.

There were 648,000 vacancies for April to June 2014, up 30,000 from January to March 2014 and 117,000 from last year.

North East/South East Divide In Labour Market

The employment rate in Great Britain was highest in the South East at 76.4% and lowest in the North East at 69.5%. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East at 9.8% and lowest in the South East at 4.8%. The North East showed the greatest increase in the employment rate at 1.3% then East Midlands at 1.2%. All regions, with the exception of Wales, showed a general increase in employment rates. The only region to show an increase in the unemployment rate was the North East which increased by 0.3% to 9.8%, Yorkshire and Humberside are next with 8.2%.

The inactivity rate was highest in Wales at 24.8% and lowest in the South East and the East of England at 19.7%. The claimant count was highest in the North East at 5.4% and lowest in the South East at 1.8%.

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.

Employment Continues In General Direction Of Last Two Years

The number of people in employment continues to increase according to the latest Labour Market Survey from the ONS.

There were 30.43m people in employment according to estimates for January to March 2014, 283,000 more than October to December 2013 and 722,000 more than a year ago. An increase in the number of self-employed people partly accounts for the increase.

The increase in numbers of people employed approximates to 72.7% of people aged 16 to 64 in January to March from 72.1% for October to December 2013 and 71.4% from a year earlier.

The unemployment rate was 6.8% or 2.21m unemployed people down 133,000 from October to December 2013 and 309,000 from a year earlier.

Average weekly earnings in March 2014 were £449/week for average regular pay and £474/week for average total pay. Total pay has increased by 1.7% over the year to January to March 2014. Regular pay has increased by 1.3% over the same period. CPI increased by 1.6% between March 2013 and March 2014.

There were 628,000 job vacancies for February to April 2014 up from 116,000 a year earlier.

Unemployment Continues To Fall

The number of people in employment continues to increase according to latest estimates from the ONS. Unemployment continues to fall.

Employment increased by 105,000 from August to October 2013 and increased by 459,000 over the year to 30.19m for November 2013 to January 2014. The August to October increase was due to an increase in self-employed people; the number of employed people actually fell over the same period. The employment rate for November to January was 72.3% up from 72% in August to October and 71.5% from the previous year. The employment rate was highest in the South East at 76.4% and lowest in the North East at 68.2%

Unemployment fell by 63,000 from August to October and by 191,000 over the year. The total number of the unemployed was 2.33m for November to January 2014. The unemployment rate was 7.2% for November to January from 7.4% in August to October 2013 and 7.8% from last year. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East at 9.5% and lowest in the South East at 5.2%.

The number of employees fell by 60,000 to 25.49m. The number of self-employed people increased by 211,000 to 4.46m. Unpaid family workers decreased in number by 7,000 to 108,000. The number of people on government supported training and employment programmes classified as employed decreased by 38,000 to 132,000.

There were 32.35m workforce jobs ie. jobs filled in the economy, in September 2013 an increase of 216,000 from June and 598,000 on the year. The largest increase in jobs was in professional, scientific and technical activities up 137,000 to 2.62m.

In January 2014, regular pay was 1.3% up over the year from November to January to £451/week and total pay was up 1.4% to £479/week.

Unemployment Continues To Fall Nationally

The number of unemployed people aged 16 or over fell by 125,000 from October to December to 2.34m and by 161,000 from a year earlier. The unemployment rate from October to December fell to 7.2%, 0.4 percentage points down from July to September 2013. There were 396,000 more people in employment.

The economic inactivity rate was 22.1% or 8.93 million economically inactive people aged 16-64, 23,000 fewer than between July and September.

Total pay (including bonuses) averaged £478/week, an increase of 1.1% (CPI=2% for same period). Regular pay averaged £450/week.

There were 32.35m workforce jobs in the economy in September 2013, an increase of 216,000 since June 2013 and 598,000 on a year earlier. Professional, scientific and technical was the sector that showed the largest increase in jobs between September 2012 and September 2013 and reached 2.62m.

At the regional level the employment rate was highest in the South East at 76.6% and lowest in the North East at 67.4%. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East at 10% and lowest in the South East at 5.1%. The North West reported the highest level of economic inactivity at 25.1% and lowest in the South East at 19.2%

The highest employment rate for the period October 2012 to September 2013 at local authority level was South Northamptonshire with 87.8% then Watford with 87.1%. The lowest rates were in Nottingham with 57.2% then Middlesbrough with 58.3% and Newcastle upon Tyne and Birmingham with 58.7%.

Birmingham had the highest unemployment rate at 16%, then Middlesbrough with 15%. The lowest rates were South Lakeland with 2.4% and Eden in Cumbria at 2.8%.

Unemployment Down 0.5%

The percentage of economically active people unemployed from September to November 2013, known as the unemployment rate, was 7.1%. It is 0.5% lower than from June to August 2013 and down 0.6% from 2012. There were 2.32m unemployed people aged over 16, 167,000 less than June to August and 172,000 down over the year. The employment rate was 72.1% equal to 30.15m people.

There were 8.93m economically inactive people, down 22,000. The economic inactivity rate was 22.2% down 0.1% on June to August and 0.2% on the year.

There were pay rises in both total pay and regular pay of 0.9% compared with September to November 2012. Average weekly earnings were £475/week including bonuses and £447/week excluding bonuses.

Fall In Unemployment Of 0.2%

The unemployment rate for July to September was 7.6% down 0.2% from April to June 2013 according to figures from the ONS. There were 2.47m people unemployed down 48,000 from April to June and from a year earlier. There were 378,000 more people in employment and 149,000 fewer economically inactive people.

In terms of public and private employment, there were 5.67m people employed in the public sector (19%) and 24.17m people employed in the private sector (81%). There were 1.55m people employed in the NHS, 1.08m people employed in public administration, 1.48m people employed in education and 433,000 people employed in HM Forces.

There were 32.49 workforce jobs (filled jobs) in the economy in June 2013. There were 545,000 job vacancies for August to October 2013. There were 2 vacancies for every 100 employee jobs for August to October 2013.

Total pay averaged £475/week and regular pay was £447/week in September 2013 and between July and September 2013 total pay rose by 0.7% and regular pay by 0.8%.

By duration of unemployment 1.15m people have been unemployed for up to six months and 458,000 have been unemployed for over 2 years up 16,000 over the year.

North East-South East Divide In Labour Market

The employment rate was highest in the South East with 75.1% and lowest in the North East with 66.1%. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East with 10.4% and lowest in the South East with 5.8%. Inactivity was highest in the North East with a rate of 26% and lowest in the South East with 19.7%. The claimant count was highest in the North East at 7.1% and lowest in the South East at 2.7%.

Nationally, the unemployment rate was 7.8% down 0.2% from December 2012 to February 2013 and 0.3% on a year earlier. There were 2.51m people unemployed, a fall of 57,000 from December 2012 to February 2013 and 72,000 on the year. Inactivity was up 0.2% to 22.5%. The number of young unemployed fell 20,000 to 959,000.

Total pay rose by 1.7% to £476/week and regular pay by 1% to £446/week compared with March to May 2012. Average weekly hours worked for March to May totalled 32 up 0.1 from December to February and a year earlier. The claimant count was 1.48m, down 117,700 on the year. The rate was 4.4% down 0.1% from May 2013.

There were 32.3m workforce jobs in March 2013, up 211,000 from December and 161,000 on the year. The biggest increase sectorally was in professional, scientific and technical jobs with an increase of 118,000 to 2.56m. There were 529,000 vacancies, up 24,000 from January to March and 56,000 on the year.

Unemployment Up In Euro Area

Unemployment in the euro area rose to 12.2% in April 2013 a small increase on the 12.1% in March. The EU27 unemployment rate remained unchanged at 11%. The annual comparison shows a marked increase in unemployment in Europe since last year. In the euro area the unemployment rate was 11.2% and the EU27 had an unemployment rate of 10.3%.

The numbers of unemployed people in Europe were estimated to have been 26.588m. The euro area accounted for 19.375m of them. The lowest rates of unemployment were reported in Austria and Germany with 4.9% and 5.4% respectively. The highest rates were reported in Greece and Spain with 27% and 26.8% respectively.

These countries also reported the lowest and the highest rates for youth unemployment. Austria had 8% and Germany 7.5% youth unemployment and Greece had 62.5% and Spain 56.4% youth unemployment.

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.

Big Rise In Unemployment Over Year To December

Unemployemt in Europe increased significantly over the year from December 2011 to Decmber 2012 according to Eurostat. In the EU27 the unemployment rate was 10.7% and in the euro area it was 11.7%, both unchanged compared with November. In December 2011 unemployment was at 10.7% and 10% respectively.

Unemployment Down 0.1%

Unemployment was down 0.1% on June to August figures with 2.49m people unemployed according to the ONS Labour Market Survey statistical bulletin for January 2013. The number of unemployed is down 37,000 on June to August and 185,000 on a year earlier. The ONS also reports that 71.4% of the working population were in employment. The number of young unemployed people increased by 1,000 to 957,000 16-24 year olds. The number of young people in employment also increased by 12,000 to 3.72m.

The number of people employed in the public sector fell by 24,000 to 5.75m. In the private sector the numbers employed totalled 23.86m, up 65,000 from June 2012. There was an inactivity rate of 22.5% the same as June to August 2012 but 0.7% down on the previous year.

The total actual hours worked were 944.3m in September to November 2012, an increase of 7.8m. Average weekly hours were up 0.2 on June to August and 0.1 on the previous year at 31.8.

Total pay increased by 1.5% and regular pay increased by 1.4% compared with September to November 2011. In November 2012 average total pay was £472/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.

Slight Fall In Unemployment

The unemployment rate for June to August was 7.9% down 0.2% compared with March to May 2012. There were 2.53m unemployed down 50,000 on March to May. The employment rate for June to August was 71.3% up 0.5% on March to May with 29.59m people in work, up 212,000 on March to May and 510,000 on last year. The number of people in full-time work increased by 88,000 between March/May and June/August and part-time work by 125,000 but between June/August 2007 and June/August 2012 the number of people in full-time employment has fallen by 355,000 and the number of people in part-time employment has increased by 724,000. The number of unemployed people fell by 50,000 between March/May and June/August 2012 but increased by 883,000 between June/August 2007 and June/August 2012. The inactivity rate was down. There were 9.04m (22.5%) economically inactive people in June to August, down 138,000 on March to May and 314,000 on last year. There were 476,000 job vacancies for July to September 2012, up 3,000. There were 1.8 vacancies per 100 employee jobs. The largest increase in jobs between March and June 2012 was in the professional, scientific and technical sector with an increase of 87,000. The largest fall in jobs was recorded in the human health and social work sector with a decrease of 60,000 jobs. There pay rises in the June to August period. Total pay increased by 1.7% and regular pay increased by 2% on last year. Average total pay in August was £473/week and average regular pay was £444/week. The unemployment rate was highest in the North East with 9.9%. It was lowest in the South West with 5.8%. The largest decreases in the unemployment rate were in the North West with 1.1% and the North East with 0.9%. The highest employment rate was in the East of England with 74.6% followed by the South West (74.6%) and the South East (74.4%) and lowest in the North East with 67.9%. The inactivity rate was also highest in the North East with 24.6% and it was lowest in the East of England with 19.9%. The North East also had the highest Claimant Count with 7.7%. The lowest Claimant Count was in the South East with 3%.

Unemployment Down 0.1% On Quarter

The unemployment rate was 8.1% down 0.1% on the quarter. It means the number of unemployed people fell by 7,000 to 2.59m. The employment rate was up 0.5% to 71.2% which represents an increase of 236,000 to 29.56m people.

Total pay which includes bonuses increased by 1.5% on last year to £471/week in July 2012. Regular pay (excluding bonuses) increased by 1.9% to £443/week, an increase of 0.1% on the three months to June. Average weekly hours worked amounted to 31.6 during the three months to July.

Labour disputes cost 9,000 working hours from 17 disputes in July. In the 12 months to July total hours lost due to labour disputes amounted to 1.24m from 129 stoppages. These include time lost due to strikes by several trade unions over disputes related to pension schemes for public sector workers.

Unemployment Down 0.2% To 8%

The unemployment rate fell 0.2% to 8% between April and June 2012 leaving 2.56m people aged over 16 unemployed, down 46,000 on the quarter. The employment rate was 71%, up 0.4%. The number of full-time workers increased by 130,000 to 21.41m and part-time workers increased by 71,000 to 8.07m. The economic inactivity rate for 16-64 year olds was 22.6% the lowest figure since 1991.

Average total pay was £469/week in June 2012. Average regular pay was £442/week. Total hours worked in the economy was 934.7m/week or an average of 31.7 hours/week.

There were 472,000 job vacancies in the three months to July 2012, up 10,000 on the previous three months, or 1.8 job vacancies per 100 employee jobs.

Unemployment Rate Down 0.2%

The unemployment rate fell by 0.2% to 8.1% over the three months from March to May 2012. Unemployment fell to 9.21m down by 65,000. The inactivity rate among those aged 16-64 was 22.9%.

Total pay rose by 1.5% on last year in the economy as a whole and regular pay rose by 1.8%.