Today’s labour market statistics published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), show wage growth continues with average weekly earnings for employees in the UK in real terms increasing by 0.4% excluding bonuses, and by 0.2% including bonuses, compared with a year earlier.
The unemployment rate was the joint lowest since 1975 at 4.2% down from 4.5% a year earlier. There were 32.40 million people in work, 137,000 more than for December 2017 to February 2018 and 388,000 more than for a year earlier.
Recruitment & Employment Confederation (REC) chief executive, Neil Carberry commenting on ONS figures:
‘Despite political turmoil and uncertainty, our jobs market is remarkably robust. Because the UK jobs market is flexible, few people who want to work are struggling to find it.
‘There may be more challenging times ahead as we move closer to leaving the European Union. With employment high, a comprehensive mobility deal is needed to stop lack of people being a brake on jobs and prosperity.’
ENDS
Notes to Editors
1. For more information, contact the REC Press Office on 0207 009 2157/2192 or pressoffice@rec.uk.com. An ISDN line is available for interviews on 0207 021 0584.
2. Our model predicted the unemployment rate would edge down to 4.1% and that there would be a decline in unemployment of 34,000 in the three months to May.
3. The unemployment rate (the number of unemployed people as a proportion of all employed and unemployed people) was 4.2%, down from 4.5% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since 1975. There were 1.41 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 12,000 fewer than for December 2017 to February 2018 and 84,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
Vacancies are defined as positions for which employers are actively seeking to recruit outside their business or organisation. There were 824,000 job vacancies for April to June 2018. This was slightly more (up 7,000) compared with January to March 2018, 39,000 more than for a year earlier and the highest since comparable records began in 2001.
4. Full data and PDF available here:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/employmentandemployeetypes/bulletins/uklabourmarket/july2018
5. Jobs transform lives, which is why we are building the best recruitment industry in the world. As the professional body for recruitment we’re determined to make businesses more successful by helping them secure the people they need. We are absolutely passionate and totally committed in this pursuit for recruiters, employers, and the people they hire. Find out more about the Recruitment & Employment Confederation at www.rec.uk.com
