The UK unemployment total has fallen below two million for the first time in almost six years, official figures show.
The number of jobless people fell by 154,000 to 1.97 million in the three months to the end of August, the Office for National Statistics said.
The drop, which is bigger than ****ysts expected, took the unemployment rate to 6%, its lowest level since late 2008.
But wage growth remained stubbornly below the current 1.2% inflation rate.
Other key figures included show:
"Real pay continues to drop, carrying on the trend that began six years ago. Weak pay is bad news for household budgets, but also for the levels of income tax receipts and the UK's fiscal position," said Martin Beck, senior economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club.
BBC News - UK unemployment falls below two million
They mean that 30 million aren't claiming dole (JSA?), while all but 2% of those working are probably claiming tax credits, housing benefit, child tax credits etc because they're on minimum wage of zero hours contract earning next to nothing as usual. It would be far better to quote the figures for those claiming any benefit including tax credits - that would be a more realistic figure.
George means that the final solution is working....... as the poor die there's more money for tax cuts before the election then. I'd rather the tax stayed where it is - even though it's costing me, the debt was paid and the country got back on it's feet. But they'll opt for tax cuts since it's almost election time.
The number of jobless people fell by 154,000 to 1.97 million in the three months to the end of August, the Office for National Statistics said.
The drop, which is bigger than ****ysts expected, took the unemployment rate to 6%, its lowest level since late 2008.
But wage growth remained stubbornly below the current 1.2% inflation rate.
Other key figures included show:
- The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in September fell by 18,600 to 951,900, the 23rd consecutive monthly reduction.
- The number of self-employed people dropped by 76,000 in the latest three-month period to 4.5 million, but the total is 279,000 higher than a year ago.
- The number of employees in part-time jobs has reached a record high of 6.8 million.
- Youth unemployment - covering 16-to-24-year-olds - fell by 88,000 over the quarter to 733,000, giving a jobless rate among the age group of 16%.
"Real pay continues to drop, carrying on the trend that began six years ago. Weak pay is bad news for household budgets, but also for the levels of income tax receipts and the UK's fiscal position," said Martin Beck, senior economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club.
BBC News - UK unemployment falls below two million
In total, there are now 30.76 million people in work
They mean that 30 million aren't claiming dole (JSA?), while all but 2% of those working are probably claiming tax credits, housing benefit, child tax credits etc because they're on minimum wage of zero hours contract earning next to nothing as usual. It would be far better to quote the figures for those claiming any benefit including tax credits - that would be a more realistic figure.
Chancellor George Osborne said the fall in unemployment was "evidence that our long-term economic plan is working".
enuff said
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