Estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that, between November 2016 to January 2017 and February to April 2017, the number of people in work increased, the number of unemployed people fell, and the number of people aged from 16 to 64 not working and not seeking or available to work (economically inactive) also fell.
There were 1.53 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 50,000 fewer than for November 2016 to January 2017 and 145,000 fewer than for a year earlier.The unemployment rate (the proportion of those in work plus those unemployed, that were unemployed) was 4.6%, down from 5.0% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since 1975.
There were 31.95 million people in work, 109,000 more than for November 2016 to January 2017 and 372,000 more than for a year earlier. The employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) was 74.8%, the joint highest since comparable records began in 1971.
There were 8.85 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive (not working and not seeking or available to work), 30,000 fewer than for November 2016 to January 2017 and 74,000 fewer than for a year earlier. The inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive) was 21.5%, down from 21.8% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since comparable records began in 1971.
Average weekly earnings for employees in nominal terms increased by 2.1 percent including bonuses, and by 1.7 percent excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier. In real terms (that is, adjusted for price inflation), average weekly earnings decreased by 0.4 percent including bonuses, and fell by 0.6 percent excluding bonuses, compared with a year earlier.