Unemployment fell by 37,000 between September and November to 2.49 million, and the unemployment rate is down to 7.7%, today’s labour market statistics reveal., today’s labour market statistics (pdf) reveal.
The headline figures are:
• The employment rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 71.4%, up 0.1 on June to August 2012 and up 1.1 on a year earlier. There were 29.68 million people in employment aged 16 and over, up 90,000 on June to August 2012 and up 552,000 on a year earlier.
• The unemployment rate was 7.7% of the economically active population, down 0.1 on June to August 2012 and down 0.7 on a year earlier. There were 2.49 million unemployed people, down 37,000 on June to August 2012 and down 185,000 on a year earlier.
• The inactivity rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 22.5%, unchanged on June to August 2012 but down 0.7 on a year earlier. There were 9.03 million economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64, down 13,000 on June to August 2012 and down 253,000 on a year earlier.
• Total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.5% compared with September to November 2011. Regular pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.4% compared with September to November 2011.
We will have more detailed reaction later today on Left Foot Forward.
