The
number of people in work has risen by 233,000 over the past year, according to
the latest labour market statistics.
This
quarter saw employment levels fall by 9,000 from its previous record high, but
the underlying employment trend remains upwards.
Nearly
three-quarters of working age people in the UK are in employment, well above
the European average and one of the highest figures on record.
Secretary
of State for Work and Pensions Andrew Smith said: "Compared to this time
last year, there are nearly a quarter of a million more people in work,
vacancies remain high and unemployment is down. The level of redundancies this
quarter was the lowest for six years."
By Quentin Reade
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