UK unemployment fell by 115,000 between July and September to 1.96 million, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

It was the 18th consecutive quarterly fall.

Figures also showed that one measure of average earnings growth beat inflation for the first time in five years.

The ONS said earnings excluding bonuses rose by 1.3% in the year to September, ahead of the 1.2% Consumer Prices Index inflation rate.

Pay has lagged inflation since the global financial crisis, but in recent months earnings have been rising just as the pace of price growth slows.

The number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance was 931,700 in October, 20,400 down on September, and the 24th consecutive monthly cut.

The ONS said employment rose by 112,000 in the latest quarter to 30.7 million, the highest since records began in 1971.

Around 14.7% of workers, or 4.5 million, are self-employed, down by 88,000 on the quarter but up by 279,000 on a year ago, while the number of part-time workers wanting a full-time job remained at about 1.3 million.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Record numbers of people in work means more people with the security of a regular wage who are better able to support themselves and their families.

"With the vast majority of the rise in employment over the last year being full-time, it's clear that thanks to the government's long-term economic plan, we are helping businesses to create the jobs that people need."

However, Paul Kenny, general secretary of the GMB union, said: "Many of the new jobs are precarious and badly paid while the real value of take-home pay for the rest of the workforce is 13% below pre-recession levels."

Click Me

Were living in a Part time world !

I don't believe the numbers are a true representation.

Work for me is full time earning a wage to live off not part time just to exist.

Unemployment always falls during the summer months. Holiday time and extra staff needed. We have also had a few major events in this country this year, so although the employment figures are up, the jobs are not all necessarily from numerous different regions, evenly distributed or long term.

Job seekers allowance: Is that income based or contribution based? They do not say. So maybe the foreigners who can receive the contribution JSA , just happened to go home for a holiday. They can only receive it for 3 months. I suppose they can come back and apply again. Everything keeps the ball rolling so to speak.
The day that we can put our heating on, cook a dinner, keep the lights on , have a bath and flush the toilet without worrying, is the day I will acknowledge that things are improving.

Found this, which would indicate that the figures are not completely accurate, they a based on compilation of the Labour Force Survey. How strange.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unemployment_in_the_United_Kingdom

One word to say.Sanctions.

http://dwpvendetta.wordpress.com/ This has gone viral.

We don't know how many of these jobs are zero hours contracts?, how many are 8 or 9 or very few hours a week?, minimum wage or living wage, are any of them full time well paid positions where employees can join the pension fund etc? Rudebox suggests that they are probably seasonally adjusted figures because of holiday cover and other seasonal demand, I suggest Rudebox is correct. The true figures will probably be those we may hear about in January and February. We are unlikely to find out how much it is costing to pay working tax credits as against paying for job seekers allowance.
Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow but never jam today.
Bennie.