Joblessness count posts a fall
Under the Labour Force Survey count, unemployment fell by 133,000 to 2.21 million in first quarter of 2014 compared with the final quarter of last year. The unemployment rate was down to 6.8% from 7.2%.
Both the count and the rate were last lower over five years ago in the three-month period ending February 2009.
The number of unemployed men was down by 90,000 to 1.24 million and their unemployment rate fell to 7.0% from 7.6%.
The number of unemployed women was down by 43,000 to 973,000 and their unemployment rate fell to 6.4% from 6.8%.
Other data show that unemployment rates for young people aged between 16 and 24 were substantially higher than the overall rate, with, for example, one in six (16.9%) 18- to 24-year olds out of work.
In April, unemployment on the other main jobless measure — the claimant count which only includes those people on Jobseeker’s Allowance — was down by 25,100 to 1.12 million. It was the 18th consecutive monthly fall.
The number of male claimant numbers fell by 17,300 on the previous month to 714,900 and their joblessness rate was down to 4.0% from 4.1%
Women benefit claimants fell by 7,800 to 401,800, but their joblessness rate was unchanged at 2.6%.