“More people working, more full-time employees and higher wages all mark a strong and steady UK employment picture. Employer confidence is returning and businesses are investing in the expansion and retention of their workforce. For jobseekers this means higher average advertised salaries – which climbed to £33,322 in December.
“However, challenges lie ahead. The threat of a ‘Brexit’ will be on employer’s minds in the coming months, and companies are already making their voices heard. The movement of jobs abroad, such as those within HSBC could undermine the current steady market, as well as meaning Britain loses vital skills and key workers.
“But it’s always a two-way jobs market between Europe and Britain. A recent commitment to provide more jobs by Aldi for instance, is a sure sign that confidence in the British market, and British workers remains strong.
“And there’s also the important issue of a gender pay divide which is finally gaining the attention it deserves. It’s crucial that employers remain transparent and open to make sure all workers are getting a fair deal.”
ONS Labour Market Stats (Oct to Dec 2015)
- There were 31.42 million people in work, 205,000 more than for July to September 2015 and 521,000 more than for a year earlier.
- The employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) reached 74.1%, the highest since comparable records began in 1971.
- The unemployment rate was 5.1%, lower than for a year earlier (5.7%).
- Average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain increased by 1.9% including bonuses and by 2.0% excluding bonuses compared with a year earlier.
- An increase in people working full-time, with 22.98 million people working full-time, 387,000 more than for a year earlier.
- There were 8.43 million people working part-time, 134,000 more than for a year earlier.
- There were 1.69 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 60,000 fewer than for July to September 2015 and 172,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
- There were 924,000 unemployed men, 116,000 fewer than for a year earlier, compared to 766,000 unemployed women – 57,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
- There were 8.88 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive (not working and not seeking or available to work), 88,000 fewer than for July to September 2015 and 172,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
