Unemployment fell by 65,000 over the three months to May to 2.58 million or 8.1% of the economically active population.
Figures published by the Office for National Statistics today also revealed that 181,000 more people entered employment over the quarter. The number of full-time workers increased by 133,000 to reach 21.37 million, while the number of part-time workers increased by 48,000 to reach 7.99 million.Employment minister Chris Grayling said the figures were ‘encouraging’ in what was still an ‘incredibly difficult economic climate’.
He added: ‘Not only is unemployment falling but in overall terms there are now almost 100,000 less people on benefits since the 2010 election. We still have a long way to go but this is a step in the right direction.’
The Work Foundation described the figures as ‘welcome but baffling’.
Director Ian Brinkley said: ‘The economy is in recession, public sector jobs are still being shed, and yet some private sector employers are clearly hiring in large numbers. There is nothing to suggest that further deregulation of the labour market is required.’
But he said that the progress made could ‘easily go into reverse’ and warned against complacency.
‘The government made a good start in announcing long-term plans to unlock £50bn of investment in infrastructure. It needs to do more to bring forward investment in the short term to secure the recovery.’
