Official figures show that a record number of people are in work in Britain, while the number claiming unemployment benefit has fallen for the 12th month in a row.
The employment level has reached 29.1 million, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
The number of people claiming jobless benefits fell by 12,800 in September to a two-year low of 835,800. Unemployment, including those not eligible for benefit, fell by 5,000 in the quarter to August to 1.65 million.
The number of manufacturing jobs continued to fall, down by 42,000 in the three months to August compared with a year ago to 2.95 million, the lowest on record.
Average earnings increased by 3.7% in the year to August, up by 0.2 points compared with the previous month.
