The employment rate is at 75.3 per cent – up from 74.6 per cent compared with a year ago and the joint highest since records began, show the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures.
The ONS data revealed that 402,000 more people have moved into employment in the last year, while the unemployment rate (4.3 per cent) has not been lower since 1975.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey said the government was doing all it can to help people into work“
From next month, we’ll be taking thousands more people out of paying tax and also increasing the National Living Wage (NLW), benefiting those on the lowest pay and making sure they keep more of what they earn,” she said. “In fact by raising the NLW we have ensured that the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by almost seven per cent above inflation since 2015.”
Despite the rise in the NLW, overall pay growth is still slow with average weekly earnings in real terms (adjusted for price inflation) falling by 0.2 per cent excluding bonuses.
Separate figures released by the government, showed that 770,000 people are now in receipt of Universal Credit, which is continuing to be rolled out across the country. Of those receiving Universal Credit, 300,000 (39 per cent) were in employment.
