Employment remains at top levels as more women stay in work
Employment remains at an all-time high in the UK, as the rate for women hit a fresh record, new figures reveal.
Employment was up by 32,000 in the three months to April, to 32.7 million
For February to April 2019, 76.1% of people aged 16 to 64 were in paid work – the joint-highest employment rate on record https://t.co/C7Xme4NjP7pic.twitter.com/G7uMRFyImK
— ONS (@ONS) June 11, 2019
The overall employment rate of 76.1% was the joint highest total since records began in 1971.
Unemployment fell by 34,000 to 1.3 million, continuing a general trend which started in early 2012.
The UK’s unemployment rate of 3.8% remains the joint lowest level since the end of 1974, reported the Office for National Statistics.
While employment has reached a new record high, earnings of employees are still lower than before the 2008–2009 recession, after taking inflation into account https://t.co/9rUEHAH6Pupic.twitter.com/xHbeBJioxD
— ONS (@ONS) June 11, 2019
Average earnings increased by 3.1% compared to the same period a year ago. This was slower than a 3.3% rise last month.
The employment rate for women was the highest on record at 72%, following changes to the state pension age which have resulted in fewer women retiring between the ages of 60 and 65.
72% of women aged 16 to 64 were in paid work, the highest female employment rate on record https://t.co/8JXrykP0Rupic.twitter.com/4AEorLFmZ4
— ONS (@ONS) June 11, 2019
Economic inactivity, the ONS’s measure of people with no job who are not actively seeking one, also fell to a record low among women of 25.2%.
Matt Hughes, deputy head of labour market statistics at the ONS, said: “With employment growth among women coming from full-timers, the overall gap between men and women in hours worked is now the lowest ever – women now average about three-quarters of men’s weekly hours, compared with around two-thirds 25 years ago.”
The number of job vacancies for March to May 2019 was 837,000, which was 11,000 more than a year earlier but 12,000 fewer than for the three months to February 2019.
There were 837,000 job vacancies for March to May 2019 – 11,000 more than a year earlier, but 12,000 fewer than for the 3 months to February 2019 https://t.co/HBgadZRPOopic.twitter.com/b7VCW8Qm0j
— ONS (@ONS) June 11, 2019
The ONS said the number of vacancies had generally been increasing since 2012, but has been falling since early 2019.
Mr Hughes said: “Overall, the labour market continues to be strong, with employment still at a joint record rate.
“However, while the number of vacancies remains high, it has fallen back slightly from the historic highs seen at the turn of the year.”