Unemployment rate stays at record low since 1975

Official figures released by the Office for National Statistics have shown that unemployment is at 4.3 per cent, the lowest since 1975.

The figures also show that there are now 32.10 million people in work, 317,000 more than last year.

The figures are as a result of increases in full-time and permanent work, and in the last year there are 20,000 fewer people relying on zero hour contracts.

The female employment rate is also at a near record of 70.7 per cent, with over 15 million women in work. However, mothers aged between 16 and 49 are still less likely to be in work than women without dependent children of the same age.

The government says one area of focus therefore is getting more women into work and boosting women’s pay income.

The employment figures also show that there are a near record 783,000 vacancies in the economy at any one time, the number of people in employment has increased by over three million since 2010, and the UK has the third highest employment rate in the G7.

Damian Hinds, Minister for Employment, said: “Our economy is helping to create full time, permanent jobs which are giving people across the UK the chance of securing a reliable income.

“We’ve boosted the income for people on the lowest pay by increasing the National Living Wage and delivered the fastest pay rise for the lowest earners in 20 years.

“That’s great progress and we’re determined to help more people flourish in the world of work.”