Employment reaches new record high
Latest employment figures from the Office for National Statistics: August 2013.
The number of people in employment has reached a record high of 29.78 million, with a rise of 300,000 over the last year, according to figures released today (14 August 2013). More than two thirds of the rise has been amongst UK nationals.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the growth in employment has been fuelled by a rise in permanent jobs – up 110,000 over the last 3 months.
The growth in employment is accompanied by a drop of 4,000 in the number of people classed as unemployed over the last 3 months. The level is now 49,000 lower than this time last year.
Today’s independent figures also show that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) has fallen for the ninth month in a row – and is now at its lowest level since February 2009. The number of people signing on fell in every region and nation of the UK for the third month in a row.
Today’s statistics also show a continued growth in the number of vacancies, with more than half a million currently available – an increase of 12% over the past year.
Minister for Pensions Steve Webb said:
Today’s figures show a record high employment level – with more women in work than ever before.
This growth has been driven by a rise in permanent, private sector jobs, which suggests businesses are feeling positive about the future.
Minister for Employment Mark Hoban said:
With 29,000 fewer people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance compared to this time last month, and more people in work than ever before, today’s figures paint a positive picture of the UK labour market.
There are now more jobs available than at any time since the end of 2008, and more hours being worked than ever before – which shows that there are opportunities out there for people who want to work and get on in life.
Background to labour market statistics: August 2013
This month’s Labour Force Survey covers April to June 2013. The claimant count is for July 2013 and the vacancy count for May to July 2013.
The number of people in work rose this quarter to a record high
The details include:
- 29.78 million people were in work in April to June 2013
- the employment level rose 69,000 on the previous quarter and 301,000 on the year
- the employment rate is 71.5%, up 0.1 points on the quarter and up 0.4 points on the year
ILO unemployment fell this quarter
The details include:
- 2.51 million people were ILO unemployed in the April to June 2013 quarter, down 4,000 on the previous quarter and 49,000 on the year
- the ILO unemployment rate is 7.8%, unchanged on the quarter and down 0.2 points on the year
The level of economic inactivity is down on the quarter and on the year
The details include:
- economic inactivity level at 8.99 million in the April to June 2013 quarter, down 10,000 on the previous quarter and 105,000 on the year
- economic inactivity rate at 22.3%, unchanged on the quarter and down 0.3 points on the year
- excluding students, inactivity as a share of the 16-64 population is 16.6%, down 0.2 points on the quarter and down 0.6 points on the year
The number of people on Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) fell this month, and the number claiming one of the other main out-of-work benefits is also improving
The details include:
- claimant unemployment was 1,442,000 in July 2013, down 29,200 on the month and down 145,400 on the year
- claimant count rate at 4.3%, down 0.1 points on the month and down 0.4 points on the year
These figures continue to be affected by welfare reform, including re-assessment of existing claims for incapacity benefits and the equalisation of the State Pension age. This is likely to have added to the JSA caseload between June and July.
The details also include:
- in the year to February 2013, the number claiming incapacity benefits fell 82,000 to 2.48 million – the most recent provisional figure for June 2013 suggests the caseload has since fallen further to 2.45 million
- in the year to February 2013, the number of lone parents on Income Support fell 79,000 to 505,000 – the provisional figure for June 2013 is 500,000
The number of redundancies fell and unfilled vacancies rose on the quarter
The details include:
- 123,000 redundancies in April to June 2013, down 17,000 on the previous quarter and 28,000 on the year
- the ONS vacancy survey estimates an average of 533,000 unfilled vacancies in the 3 months to July 2013, up 19,000 on the previous quarter and 58,000 on the year
Total weekly pay in June 2013 was up by 2.1% over the year
Growth in regular weekly pay, excluding bonuses, was up by 1.1% on the year.
Full Labour Market Statistics, August 2013
The full Labour Market Statistics, August 2013 are available on the Office for National Statistics website.
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