UK employment rates, ages 16 to 64 (seasonally adjusted), November 2013 to November 2016

Wednesday 18 January, 2017 Written by Simon Collyer

Between June to August 2016 and September to November 2016, the number of people in work was little changed, the number of unemployed people decreased, and the number of people not working and not seeking or available to work (economically inactive) increased.

There were 31.80 million people in work, little changed compared with June to August 2016 but 294,000 more than for a year earlier.

There were 23.25 million people working full-time, 209,000 more than for a year earlier. There were 8.55 million people working part-time, 86,000 more than for a year earlier.

The employment rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work) was 74.5%, virtually unchanged compared with June to August 2016 but higher than for a year earlier (74.0%).

There were 1.60 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 52,000 fewer than for June to August 2016 and 81,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

There were 883,000 unemployed men, 8,000 fewer than for June to August 2016 and 41,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

There were 721,000 unemployed women, 44,000 fewer than for June to August 2016 and 40,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

The unemployment rate was 4.8%, down from 5.1% for a year earlier. It has not been lower since July to September 2005. The unemployment rate is the proportion of the labour force (those in work plus those unemployed) that were unemployed.

There were 8.89 million people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive (not working and not seeking or available to work), 85,000 more than for June to August 2016 but 63,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

The inactivity rate (the proportion of people aged from 16 to 64 who were economically inactive) was 21.7%, higher than for June to August 2016 (21.5%) but lower than for a year earlier (21.9%).

Average weekly earnings for employees in Great Britain in nominal terms (that is, not adjusted for price inflation) increased by 2.8% including bonuses and by 2.7% excluding bonuses compared with a year earlier.