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| UK unemployment rate drops to 7.7% | UK unemployment rate drops to 7.7% |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The rate of unemployment in the UK dropped to 7.7% between May and July from 7.8% in the previous three months. | The rate of unemployment in the UK dropped to 7.7% between May and July from 7.8% in the previous three months. |
| The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has said that interest rates are unlikely to be raised before the rate falls to 7%. | The governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney, has said that interest rates are unlikely to be raised before the rate falls to 7%. |
| The number of people unemployed fell 24,000 in the period to 2.487 million. | The number of people unemployed fell 24,000 in the period to 2.487 million. |
| The official figures also showed the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 32,600 to 1.402 million, its lowest level since February 2009. | The official figures also showed the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 32,600 to 1.402 million, its lowest level since February 2009. |
| However, the number of people working part-time because they cannot find a full-time job rose to 1.45 million, the highest since records began in 1992 and double the number of five years ago. | |
| Almost a third of men working part-time were doing so because they could not find full-time employment. The corresponding figure for women was 13.5%. | Almost a third of men working part-time were doing so because they could not find full-time employment. The corresponding figure for women was 13.5%. |
| 'Recovering market' | 'Recovering market' |
| "It's another set of impressive figures on the job market with positive signs on all three main indicators," said Victoria Clarke at Investec. | "It's another set of impressive figures on the job market with positive signs on all three main indicators," said Victoria Clarke at Investec. |
| "It suggests the jobs market is recovering, much like the broader economy." | "It suggests the jobs market is recovering, much like the broader economy." |
| "It reinforces our view that unemployment will come down to 7% more quickly than the Bank of England expects." | "It reinforces our view that unemployment will come down to 7% more quickly than the Bank of England expects." |
| Mr Carney said he expected the fall to 7% to take at least three years. | Mr Carney said he expected the fall to 7% to take at least three years. |
| The pound rose against both the euro and the US dollar following the release of the figures. | The pound rose against both the euro and the US dollar following the release of the figures. |
| The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in July was revised downwards. | The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in July was revised downwards. |
| The fall of 68,900 in July and August was the biggest two-month drop since June 1997. | The fall of 68,900 in July and August was the biggest two-month drop since June 1997. |
| August's fall in the claimant count was the tenth consecutive month that the figure had dropped. | August's fall in the claimant count was the tenth consecutive month that the figure had dropped. |
| 'Total complacency' | 'Total complacency' |
| The North East of England had the highest rate of unemployment between May and July, with 10.4%, while the South East had the lowest at 5.8%. | The North East of England had the highest rate of unemployment between May and July, with 10.4%, while the South East had the lowest at 5.8%. |
| The biggest increase during that period was in the North West of England, where unemployment rose by 13,000. | The biggest increase during that period was in the North West of England, where unemployment rose by 13,000. |
| The South East showed the biggest fall, with 29,000 fewer people unemployed than there were in the previous three months, followed by the East Midlands, with a fall of 11,000. | The South East showed the biggest fall, with 29,000 fewer people unemployed than there were in the previous three months, followed by the East Midlands, with a fall of 11,000. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband stressed the uneven picture around the country in exchanges during Prime Minister's Questions. | Labour leader Ed Miliband stressed the uneven picture around the country in exchanges during Prime Minister's Questions. |
| "The chancellor went out and said he had saved the economy," he said. | "The chancellor went out and said he had saved the economy," he said. |
| Mr Miliband described that as "total complacency and total hubris... at a time when, even today, unemployment is rising in half the country". | Mr Miliband described that as "total complacency and total hubris... at a time when, even today, unemployment is rising in half the country". |
| The Prime Minister, David Cameron, attacked Labour's policies. | The Prime Minister, David Cameron, attacked Labour's policies. |
| "They told us that unemployment would go up and not down. They told us that the growth of private sector jobs would never make up for the loss of [public] sector jobs," he said. | "They told us that unemployment would go up and not down. They told us that the growth of private sector jobs would never make up for the loss of [public] sector jobs," he said. |
| "They have been wrong on every single one of those issues." | "They have been wrong on every single one of those issues." |
| 'Resilience and flexibility' | 'Resilience and flexibility' |
| Average pay rose by 1.1% including bonuses compared with the same time last year, or 1.0% excluding them, which is well below the 2.8% rate at which prices are rising. | Average pay rose by 1.1% including bonuses compared with the same time last year, or 1.0% excluding them, which is well below the 2.8% rate at which prices are rising. |
| Between March and June 2013, public sector employment fell 34,000, while private sector employment rose 114,000. | Between March and June 2013, public sector employment fell 34,000, while private sector employment rose 114,000. |
| "The positive figures are a measure of the resilience and the flexibility of Britain's labour market," said David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce. | "The positive figures are a measure of the resilience and the flexibility of Britain's labour market," said David Kern, chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce. |
| "The further increase in private sector employment, at a time when the public sector is still shedding jobs, demonstrates yet again that private firms are able to drive the recovery." | "The further increase in private sector employment, at a time when the public sector is still shedding jobs, demonstrates yet again that private firms are able to drive the recovery." |
| The figures for unemployment in the three months to July are based on the Labour Force Survey, in which the ONS speaks to 60,000 households once a quarter, making it the country's biggest household survey. | The figures for unemployment in the three months to July are based on the Labour Force Survey, in which the ONS speaks to 60,000 households once a quarter, making it the country's biggest household survey. |
| The ONS is 95% confident that the main unemployment figure is correct to plus or minus 85,000 people. | The ONS is 95% confident that the main unemployment figure is correct to plus or minus 85,000 people. |