Total jobless level in Britain lowest for 42 years: ONS

Source: Xinhua| 2017-09-14 02:36:59|Editor: yan
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LONDON, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- Britain's unemployment level has fallen to its lowest level since 1975, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported in London Wednesday.

The 4.3 percent rate, recorded in July, shows the total unemployment level has decreased by 175,000, compared with a year earlier and by 75,000 compared with three months ago.

At the same time, ONS said the number of people in work in Britain increased by 181,000 in the three months to July 2017, reaching a new record high of 32.1 million. This comes on the back of three consecutive quarters of growth.

It means the employment rate has reached 75.3 percent of working age people, which is also a new record high.

The number of employed by businesses and people who are self-employed both increased in the three months to July 2017 and are also at record levels, reaching 27.1 million and 4.8 million respectively.

Senior ONS statistician Matt Hughes said: "Another record high employment rate and a record low inactivity rate suggest the labour market continues to be strong.

"In particular, the number of people aged 16 to 64 not in the labor force because they are looking after family or home is the lowest since records began, at less than 2.1 million.

"Despite earnings rising by 2.1 percent in cash terms over the last year, the real value of people's earnings is down 0.4 percent."

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said: The increase in employment is due to people of all ages finding work, with employment levels of those over 50 in work reaching a record high, youth unemployment falling by over 40 percent since 2010 and the proportion of young people who are unemployed and not in full time education dropping below 5 percent for the first time.

Minister for Employment Damian Hinds said: "The strength of the economy is helping people of all ages find work, from someone starting their first job after leaving education, to those who might be starting a new career later in life. But there is more to do, and we will continue to build on our achievements through our employment programs."

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