By Mark Smulian | 14 August 2013
The number of people in employment has reached a 'record' 29.78m, according to the Department for Work & Pensions while the number of unemployed people has fallen in the figures published today by the Office for National Statistics.
The latest unemployment figures for the three months to June showed a 69,000 increase against the previous three months, and a 301,000 increase over last year.
There was a tiny fall in the number of people unemployed in the quarter, down by 4,000 to 2.51m, while the number of economically inactive people of working age also fell a little, by 10,000 to 8.99m.
Responding to the figures, employment minister Mark Hoban said: ‘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.’
Compared with five years ago – the last quarter before the impact of the 2008 banking crash was felt – the ONS said more people were employed overall but the percentage of people aged 16 to 64 in employment was lower as more people worked past normal retirement age.
The number of people aged 16 and over in employment was 241,000 higher in April-June 2013 compared with April-June 2008. But within this, the number of people aged over 65 and in work rose by 317,000 to 1 million, but among those aged 16-64 the number employed declined by 76,000.
