Main points for the three months to February 2017
Estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that, between
September to November 2016 and the three months to February 2017,
the number of people in work increased, the number of unemployed
people fell, and the number of people aged from 16 to 64 not
working and not seeking or available to work (economically
inactive) also fell.
There were 31.84 million people in work, 39,000 more than for
September to November 2016 and 312,000 more than for a year
earlier.
The employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64
who were in work) was 74.6%, the joint highest since comparable
records began in 1971.
There were 1.56 million unemployed people (people not in work but
seeking and available to work), 45,000 fewer than for September
to November 2016 and 141,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
The unemployment rate was 4.7%, down from 5.1% for a year
earlier. It has not been lower since June to August 1975. The
unemployment rate is the proportion of the labour force (those in
work plus those unemployed) that were unemployed.
There were 8.88 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were
economically inactive (not working and not seeking or available
to work), 10,000 fewer than for September to November 2016 and
36,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
The inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64
who were economically inactive) was 21.6%, slightly lower than
for September to November 2016 (21.7%) and for a year earlier
(21.8%).
Latest estimates show that average weekly earnings for employees
in Great Britain in nominal terms (that is, not adjusted for
price inflation) increased by 2.3% including bonuses, and by 2.2%
excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier.
Latest estimates show that average weekly earnings for employees
in Great Britain in real terms (that is, adjusted for price
inflation) increased by 0.2% including bonuses, and by 0.1%
excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier.
UK labour
market statistics: Apr 2017
