The number of people in work and the number of unemployed people both increased, according to figures out this morning for the ONS for the three months to February.
Unemployment rose by 24,000 to 1.45 million in the three months to January but wage growth improved, official figures show.
The unemployment rate was 4.3%, down from 4.7% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since 1975 while there were 32.25 million people in work, 168,000 more than for August to October 2017 and 402,000 more than for a year earlier.
Meanwhile earnings continue to lag behind inflation.Latest estimates show that average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain in nominal terms (that is, not adjusted for price inflation) increased by 2.6% excluding bonuses, and by 2.8% including bonuses, compared with a year earlier.
Matthew Percival, CBI Head of Employment, said:
“These figures show another tentative sign of a return to positive real pay growth, which, alongside yesterday’s fall in inflation, points to an easing of the pressure on household incomes.
“There has also been an increase in the number of people looking for work, which will be welcomed by the growing number of employers struggling with acute labour and skills shortages.
“While companies have welcomed the agreement in principle of a status quo transition that maintains EU workers rights, the significant number of EU migrants leaving is a reminder that the UK must remain an attractive place to work.”
