{"id":68633,"date":"2016-03-16T09:51:00","date_gmt":"2016-03-16T09:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=6f224248b58d092126f2e7666f5290a4"},"modified":"2016-03-16T09:51:00","modified_gmt":"2016-03-16T09:51:00","slug":"press-release-record-high-of-31-42-million-people-in-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=68633","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Record high of 31.42 million people in work"},"content":{"rendered":"
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More people are in work than ever before, new official figures have revealed.<\/p>\n

Full-time work has driven an increase in the number of people in work, which now stands at 31.42 million \u2013 up nearly half a million from a year earlier.<\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s employment rate is 74.1%, the highest since comparable records began in 1971, and wages (before bonuses) have risen 2.2% compared with last year, while inflation was close to flat.<\/p>\n

Private sector employment, meanwhile, is the highest on record at 26.1 million. <\/p>\n

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\"2.8<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The unemployment rate still stands at 5.1%, the lowest in a decade, and the number of people claiming unemployment benefits has fallen to its lowest level since 1975.<\/p>\n

Employment Minister Priti Patel said:<\/p>\n

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This is another strong set of figures showing private sector employment at the highest since records began, wages rising and a near record number of job vacancies available in the UK economy. This strength is a real credit to hard-working people and businesses alike.<\/p>\n

With unemployment now standing at 5.1% \u2013 half the Eurozone average \u2013 it\u2019s clear that we are delivering on our promise to support people to get on in life, and create greater economic security for all.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The latest labour market statistics, released today by the ONS<\/abbr>, also show:<\/p>\n