UK employment levels on the rise

Employment levels in the UK have risen again in the last quarter, with 63,000 more people in work, according to figures released today by the Office of National Statistics.

In May to July 2003 there were a record 27.93 million people in work in the UK, an increase of 276,000 on the same period last year. In total, since 1997 employment has risen by 1.58 million.

The ILO measure of unemployment fell by 1,000 this quarter, to 1.49 million. The number of JSA claimants also fell by 6,900 between July and August, bringing the number of claimant unemployed to 930,800 – the lowest since 1975.

Both measures of unemployment show a fall over the last year, though the underlying trend remains close to flat. The claimant unemployment rate, at 3.1%, has been unchanged for 20 consecutive months.

Minister for Work Des Browne today welcomed further improvement in the labour market over the past year.

He said: "Despite the uncertainties of recent months, the UK economy continues to generate new jobs. There are over a quarter of a million more people in work than a year ago, unemployment is down and the level of economic inactivity is also lower."

The latest figures also show that the number of working age people who are out of work but not actively seeking employment – the economically inactive - has fallen by 56,000 over the year. The inactivity rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points, to 21.3%.

"Because of our success in tackling long-term unemployment, most people without work are now economically inactive," Mr Browne said.

"The recent fall in inactivity is an encouraging sign that we are extending employment opportunity to those groups in the labour market who are the most disadvantaged and the most at risk of social exclusion."

(gmcg)