This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/16/uk-unemployment-falls-september-office-for-national-statistics

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UK unemployment falls to 11-year low UK unemployment falls to 11-year low
(about 1 hour later)
Unemployment dropped to its lowest level in 11 years in September in a further indication that Britain’s employers have largely shrugged off the June Brexit vote.Unemployment dropped to its lowest level in 11 years in September in a further indication that Britain’s employers have largely shrugged off the June Brexit vote.
In the first health check of the labour market covering the three months since the referendum, official figures showed the unemployment rate was 4.8%, the lowest since September 2005 and down from 4.9% in August and 5.3% a year earlier. In the first health check of the labour market covering the three months since the referendum, official figures show the unemployment rate was 4.8%, the lowest since September 2005 and down from 4.9% in August and 5.3% a year earlier.
The employment remained at a record high of 74.5% and annual wages rises, excluding bonuses, also nudged higher to 2.4% from 2.3% in August and 2.1% in July, according to the Office for National Statistics. Employment remained at a record high of 74.5% and annual wages rises, excluding bonuses, also nudged higher to 2.4% from 2.3% in August and 2.1% in July, according to the Office for National Statistics.
But the claimant count in October jumped by by its highest number since May and analysts warned that the rate at which employers were taking on new workers had slowed dramatically. But the claimant count in October jumped by its highest number since May, and analysts warned that the rate at which employers were taking on new workers had slowed dramatically.
Employment growth slowed to 49,000 in the three months to September from 106,000 in August and 173,000 rise in the three months to July. Employment growth slowed to 49,000 in the three months to September from 106,000 in August and a 173,000 rise in the three months to July.
Most forecasters also expect inflation to rise in the coming months to surpass wage rises, threatening the living standards of most workers. Most forecasters also expect inflation to rise in the coming months, overtaking wage rises and threatening the living standards of most workers.
Alan Clarke, an economist at Scotia Bank, said: “Our only hope is that wage inflation will rise in tandem with inflation. However, I suspect that given the leads and lags, wages will not rise quickly enough to offset the squeeze to real incomes in 2017.”Alan Clarke, an economist at Scotia Bank, said: “Our only hope is that wage inflation will rise in tandem with inflation. However, I suspect that given the leads and lags, wages will not rise quickly enough to offset the squeeze to real incomes in 2017.”
ONS statistician David Freeman said the slowdown in employment growth showed the labour market “might be cooling”.ONS statistician David Freeman said the slowdown in employment growth showed the labour market “might be cooling”.
He added that the limited information on the flow of foreign workers showed “suggests the referendum outcome and subsequent devaluation of sterling has had little impact so far on the number of EU workers in the UK labour force He added that the limited information on the flow of foreign workers “suggests the referendum outcome and subsequent devaluation of sterling has had little impact so far on the number of EU workers in the UK labour force”.
Employment Minister, Damian Hinds, said: “Yet again we have a strong set of figures, with employment continuing to run at a record high and unemployment falling to a 11-year low. The employment minister, Damian Hinds, said: “Yet again we have a strong set of figures, with employment continuing to run at a record high and unemployment falling to a 11-year low.
“Growth is being fuelled by full-time professional jobs while wages are continuing to perform strongly, which underlines the resilience of the UK labour market.”“Growth is being fuelled by full-time professional jobs while wages are continuing to perform strongly, which underlines the resilience of the UK labour market.”