Unemployment falls to 1.6 million


Unemployment under the Labour Force Survey count fell by 52,000 to 1.6 million in the three months to November 2016. 


The fall meant the number of unemployed people aged 16 and over was at its lowest level since the three-month period ending December 2007.


The fall in numbers helped cut the unemployment rate to 4.8% from the 4.9% rate in the previous three-month period, and that took the rate to its lowest level since the period ending September 2005.


The number of unemployed men fell by 8,000 to 883,000, but their unemployment rate held steady at 5.0%. 


However, the number of unemployed women fell by 44,000 to 721,000 and their unemployment rate was cut to 4.6% from 4.9%.


Unemployment on the other main measure, the claimant count, fell for the first time in four months. This count only includes claimants of Jobseeker’s Allowance and those on the means-tested Universal Credit. 


In December, the total fell by 10,100 to 797,800 from the revised total for November of 808,000.


The decrease in numbers was not sufficient to affect the joblessness rate which remained at 2.3%.


The decrease was down to a fall in male numbers as the number of women claimants rose. 


https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peoplenotinwork/unemployment