Record 30 million people in jobs

Employment hit a new record high this month with over 30 million people in jobs for the first time, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics this morning.

RECORD 30-MILLION PEOPLE IN JOBS

Employment hit a new record high this month with over 30 million people in jobs for the first time, according to figures published by the Office for National Statistics this morning.

The number of people working increased by 250,000 over the last three months, up 1,244,000 since February to April 2010, with the majority of the increase being full-time, permanent jobs in the private sector. Employment increased in Scotland and Wales and in every region in England.

The figures also show that unemployment fell by 99,000 in the last three months, bringing the unemployment rate to 7.4%, the lowest since 2009.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said:

“It is really encouraging news that the number of people in jobs has increased by a quarter of a million in the last three months, bringing the total number of people in work to a record-breaking 30 million. Together with a big fall in unemployment, this shows that the Government’s long-term economic plan to get people off benefits and into work is proving successful.

“It’s also thanks to British businesses up and down the country who are feeling increasingly confident about taking on workers. This is a great sign that the economy is growing.”

Today’s figures also show:

• Youth unemployment fell 19,000 over the last three months to 941,000.
• Youth unemployment for those not in full-time education fell 25,000 over the last three months to 643,000.
• Long-term (1 year plus) unemployment fell 33,000 over the last three months to 866,000 and it is down 38,000 on the year.
• The number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell 36,700 this month - the 13th consecutive fall. The number of young people claiming JSA fell for 18th month running

 Background to labour market statistics: December 2013

 This month's Labour Force Survey covers August to October 2013. The claimant count is for November 2013 and the vacancy count for September to November 2013.

 The number of people in work rose this quarter

• 30.09 million people were in work in August to October 2013.
• The employment level rose 250 thousand on the previous quarter and 485 thousand on the year.
• The employment rate is 72.0%, up 0.4 points on the quarter and up 0.8 points on the year.

 ILO unemployment fell this quarter

• 2.39 million people were ILO unemployed in August to October 2013, down 99 thousand on the previous quarter and 121 thousand on the year.
• The ILO unemployment rate is 7.4%, down 0.3 points on the quarter and down 0.5 points on the year.

 The level of economic inactivity is down on the quarter and on the year

• The economic inactivity level was 8.92 million in August to October 2013, down 45 thousand on the previous quarter and 156 thousand on the year.
• The economic inactivity rate is 22.1%, down 0.1 points on the quarter and down 0.4 points on the year.
• Excluding students, inactivity as a share of the 16-64 population is 16.5%, unchanged on the quarter and down 0.6 points on the year.

 

The number of people on JSA fell this month, and the number claiming one of the other main out-of-work benefits is also improving 

• Claimant unemployment was 1,269 thousand in November 2013, down 36.7 thousand on the month and down 299.3 thousand on the year.
• The claimant count rate is 3.8%, down 0.1 points on the month and down 0.9 points on the year.
• The figures continue to be affected by welfare reform, including re-assessment of existing claims for incapacity benefits and equalisation of the state pension age.
• In the year to May 2013, the number claiming incapacity benefits fell 71,600 to 2.46 million. The most recent provisional figure for October 2013 suggests the caseload is at about the same level.
• In the year to May 2013, the number of lone parents on income support fell 77,400 to 500,000. The provisional figure for October 2013 is 490,000.

 

The number of redundancies fell and unfilled vacancies rose on the quarter

• There were 120 thousand redundancies in August to October 2013, down 1 thousand on the previous quarter and 27 thousand on the year.
• ONS' vacancy survey estimates an average of 562 thousand unfilled vacancies in the three months to November 2013, up 22 thousand on the previous quarter and 73 thousand on the year.
•  Total weekly pay in October 2013 was up by 0.9% over the year
• Growth in regular weekly pay, excluding bonuses, was up by 0.8% on the year.

 

David Owen, Chief Executive of GFirst LEP, says:

“Developing a highly skilled, economically productive and highly employable population in Gloucestershire is central to the Strategic Economic Plan that GFirst LEP will be submitting to Government in March 2014.

“Our Skills Statement for driving economic growth defines the necessity to develop a strong partnership with education and businesses in order to equip students with the skills that businesses need, increase apprenticeship opportunities and provide career opportunities for local skilled and talented individuals.

“Working closely with the business, voluntary and public community, and through the work of our 11 sector groups, more than 3,600 adults started an apprenticeship during 2012/13, with the welcome increase of 88% for the number of engineering apprenticeships since 2008/9. Year on year, we have seen a steady increase in the number of adult apprenticeships and the number of starts is now 176% higher in 2012/13 than in 2008/9.  Youth apprenticeships account for 27% of all apprenticeship starts and the number of opportunities is now 34% higher than in 2008/9.

“In consultation and feedback from the business community, GFirst LEP, working in partnership with a number of key organisations, will drive the supply of apprentices by working with young people and the demand for apprentices by working with employers, particularly SMEs.   This activity will directly support the Government’s aims to drive the quality and performance of apprenticeship programmes as a vehicle to support economic growth.”

Phil Smith, managing director of Business West said:  "Unemployment in the South West stands at 6.4%, which has increased 0.3 percentage points from the last quarter. An increase of 8,000 people (167,000 – 175,000) was recorded during this period, however, unemployment in the South West still remains below the national average of 7.4%. 

Despite this unemployment increase on the quarter, youth unemployment (16-24 year olds) actually dropped by 8,000 to 20.8% - a decrease of 0.3% on the previous quarter. Nationally youth unemployment dropped 0.1% to 22.1%, so the South West still remains below the national average in this field."

"The government must now build on the progress made so far and support job creation, focusing in particular on more support for exporters and improving access to finance for growing businesses."

Top line figures for the South West are in the table below:

	Level	Change on latest period	Change on year
Employment (Aug-Oct 2013)	2,544,000	+14,000	-5,000
ILO unemployment (Aug-Oct 2013)	175,000	+8,000	+20,000
Inactivity (Aug-Oct 2013)	683,000	-8,000	+7,000
Claimant Count (November 2013)	68,300	-1,700	-18,200

Find out more about the GFirst LEP Strategic Economic Plan here.