Employment rate remains at a high, Labour Force Survey shows

The employment rate in the UK continues to be at a high at 74.8 per cent, according to the Labour Force Survey from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Figures showed that the number of employed people increased between November 2016 and January 2017 and continued to rise between February and April 2017.

Increase

The number of employed people stood at 31.95 million, 109,000 more than for November 2016 to January 2017 and an increase of 372,000 on the previous year, whilst the unemployment rate reached its lowest since 1975 at 4.6 per cent, down from 5 per cent on the previous year.

The figures showed that the number of unemployed people stood at 1.53 million, 50,000 less than for November 2016 to January 2017 and a decrease of 145,000 on the previous year.

The number of people aged 16 to 64 who were not working, not seeking employment or not available to work stood at 8.85 million, 30,000 less than for November 2016 to January 2017 and a drop of 74,000 from a year earlier.

Triumph

Commenting on the figures, Totaljobs Director John Salt said that the UK’s rate of unemployment has dropped once again – despite the uncertainty that was caused by the general election – and this is testament to the strength of the job market.

He added that it is the latest triumph for the UK’s job market, which has proved its metal during a time of great change – Brexit, a new Prime Minister and a snap general election has done little to halt steadily positive numbers for unemployment in the UK.