{"id":62825,"date":"2015-10-14T08:40:00","date_gmt":"2015-10-14T08:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=1e8a42667d9d211375bef4b4287fc500"},"modified":"2015-10-14T08:40:00","modified_gmt":"2015-10-14T08:40:00","slug":"press-release-employment-rate-reaches-record-high-as-strong-pay-growth-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=62825","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Employment rate reaches record high as strong pay growth continues"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Figures published today show that there are almost 360,000 more people in work compared to this time last year \u2013 a rise that was driven by a growth in full-time work. <\/p>\n

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\"Employment<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Meanwhile the unemployment rate has fallen to 5.4% \u2013 the lowest since early 2008, and half the Eurozone average. <\/p>\n

Long-term unemployment has also fallen dramatically \u2013 by 25% on the year \u2013 and youth unemployment (excluding full-time students) is now well below pre-recession levels. <\/p>\n

With average wages rising by 3%, today\u2019s figures represent a major milestone in the government\u2019s long-term economic plan.<\/p>\n

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\"Wages<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: <\/p>\n

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This is a fantastic set of figures, which show more people in work than ever before and a strong growth in wages. That is a credit to British business, and a credit to the hardworking people of this country.<\/p>\n

Alongside this, unemployment has fallen to the lowest level since 2008, and long-term unemployment has dropped by a staggering quarter over the last year.<\/p>\n

This positive picture is replicated up and down the country, demonstrating that this one nation government is delivering a society with opportunity and security for all at its heart.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Find out how these people\u2019s lives have been transformed through work<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Women in work<\/h2>\n

Since 2010, there are 920,000 more women in work and there are 183,000 fewer unemployed women.<\/p>\n

Unemployment<\/h2>\n

The number of unemployed people has fallen by nearly 200,000 since last year, and the unemployment rate has fallen to 5.4% \u2013 a 7 year low.<\/p>\n

Worklessness<\/h2>\n

Worklessness is continuing to fall, with the number of people without a job having fallen by more than 1.2 million since 2010.<\/p>\n

Long-term unemployment<\/h2>\n

The number of long-term unemployed people has fallen by more than 25% in the last year to 526,000 \u2013 the lowest level in 6 years.<\/p>\n

Young people<\/h2>\n

The number of unemployed young people who are not full-time students is the lowest in a decade at 6.2% of the total youth population.<\/p>\n

While the employment rate of young people who have left full-time education is at its highest level in more than 10 years at 73.9%.<\/p>\n

Supporting people into work<\/h2>\n

This government\u2019s welfare reforms were designed with the aim of supporting people off benefits and into work. Today\u2019s figures show that there are now 1 million fewer people claiming one of the main out of work benefits compared to 2010, and over 2 million more people in work.<\/p>\n

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP<\/abbr>) offers a range of support across the country to get people off benefits and into jobs through our network of over 700 jobcentres.<\/p>\n

These include work experience, employer-led training, work placements, skills training, the Work Programme, and help for budding entrepreneurs through the New Enterprise Allowance.<\/p>\n

Security for hardworking people<\/h2>\n

The government is also providing security for hardworking people at every stage of their lives by moving to a truly compassionate higher-wage, lower-tax and lower-welfare society.<\/p>\n

That includes:<\/p>\n