UK unemployment rate unchanged at 6%

Unemployment fell by 63,000 to 1.96 million between August and October

(Bloomberg)

Unemployment fell by 63,000 to 1.96 million people in the three months to October, official figures showed.

The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6 per cent between August and October - its lowest level in six years, but slightly above analyst expectations of 5.9 per cent.

The decline of 63,000 in the jobless total was the smallest quarterly fall for a year. The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance last month fell by 26,900 to 900,100.

Pay, including bonuses, increased by 1.4 per cent in the year to October, up 0.4 per cent on the previous month, and higher than the CPI inflation rate of 1 per cent. This means earnings are growing faster than inflation.

Average pay is now £483 a week before tax and other deductions, an increase of 55.3 per cent compared to the year 2000.