The number of people in work in the UK has reached record levels and unemployment has fallen to its lowest for over a year, official figures showed today.
Employment increased by 93,000 in the three months to May to 29.08 million, the biggest total since records began in 1971, and a rise of 180,000 over the past year.
Unemployment fell by 35,000 over the same quarter to 1.66 million, the lowest for over a year, giving a jobless rate of 5.4%.
The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance was 13,800 down in June at 864,100, the 11th monthly fall in the past year.
The Office for National Statistics also reported that average earnings increased by 3.5% in the year to May, down by 0.6% from the previous month.
