UK employment continues to rise
Employment continued to increase and unemployment continued to fall between December 2013 and February 2014, the latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics have revealed.
During the same period the number of economically inactive people aged from 16 to 64 also fell; all these changes continue the general direction of movement over the past two years.
At 2.24 million for December 2013 to February 2014, unemployment was 77,000 lower than for September to November 2013 and 320,000 lower than a year earlier.
The unemployment rate was 6.9% of the labour force for December 2013 to February 2014, down from 7.1% for September to November 2013 and from 7.9% for a year earlier.
At 30.39 million for December 2013 to February 2014, employment was 239,000 higher than for September to November 2013 and 691,000 higher than a year earlier.
72.6% of people aged 16 to 64 were in work for December 2013 to February 2014, up from 72.1% for September to November 2013 and from 71.4% for a year earlier.
For December 2013 to Ferbruary 2014, 21.9% of people aged 16 to 64 were economically inactive, down from 22.2% from both September to November 2013 and from a year earlier. The rate has not been lower since October to December 1990.
Pay including bonuses for employees in Great Britain, for December 2013 to February 2014, was 1.7% higher than a year earlier, with pay excluding bonuses 1.4% higher.
