A record number of people are in employment, according the latest official statistics.
The latest Labour Force Survey figures also show the highest quarterly growth in the number of people in work since 1997.
In the past three months 175,000 more people found jobs, swelling the total to a record 29.36 million.
At the same time the figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number claiming unemployment benefit fell for the 15th consecutive month to 807,700, the lowest it has been for over 30 years.
Employment minister Caroline Flint said: “I’m pleased to see these figures showing growth in employment for both younger and older workers alike – with 60,000 more 16- to 24-year-olds and 95,000 more people over 50 in work than in the previous quarter. With record numbers of vacancies in the economy the opportunities exist for people to make the most of their skills and talents.”
Covering the period from September to November 2007, the employment rate was up 0.3% to 74.7%, up 0.3 for the quarter and up by 0.1% year-on-year.
Redundancies are also close to their lowest level since comparable records began in 1995.
There were 124,000 redundancies this quarter, up 3,000 on the previous quarter, but down 12,000 year-on-year.
However, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development has warned that 2008 will be the worst year for employment since the Labour Party came to power.
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