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| UK unemployment total falls to 2.49 million | UK unemployment total falls to 2.49 million |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK unemployment total has fallen to its lowest level for 18 months while the number of people in work has reached another record high. | The UK unemployment total has fallen to its lowest level for 18 months while the number of people in work has reached another record high. |
| The jobless total fell by 37,000 between September and November to 2.49 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. | The jobless total fell by 37,000 between September and November to 2.49 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. |
| The ONS said the number of people in work had increased to 29.7 million. | The ONS said the number of people in work had increased to 29.7 million. |
| The number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 12,100 to 1.56 million last month, the lowest since June 2011. | The number claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fell 12,100 to 1.56 million last month, the lowest since June 2011. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% in the three months to November, down from 7.8% in the previous quarter. | The unemployment rate fell to 7.7% in the three months to November, down from 7.8% in the previous quarter. |
| Employment Minister Mark Hoban said: "These are very positive figures showing employment rising for 15 months and despite difficult economic circumstances, unemployment is lower than when this government took office." | |
| The ONS figures showed that the number of people employed full time rose by 113,000, offsetting a fall in part-time employment of 23,000. | |
| There was a drop in the number of long-term unemployed. Those out of work for more than two years fell by 10,000 to 434,000, while the number out of work for more than a year dropped by 5,000 to 892,000. | There was a drop in the number of long-term unemployed. Those out of work for more than two years fell by 10,000 to 434,000, while the number out of work for more than a year dropped by 5,000 to 892,000. |
| However, there was a slight increase in youth unemployment. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work rose by 1,000 to 957,000. | However, there was a slight increase in youth unemployment. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work rose by 1,000 to 957,000. |
| Average earnings (including bonuses) rose by 1.5% in the year to November, down from the previous figure of 1.8%. | |
| Economy 'puzzle' | |
| The number of people out of work in the UK has been falling steadily for almost a year, despite concerns over the economy's growth rate. | |
| There are worries that figures to be released on Friday will show that the economy contracted during the final quarter of the year. | |
| "Output looks to be flatlining while employment is still rising, continuing the pattern of the past year," said Rob Wood at Berenberg Bank. | |
| "We suspect that this puzzle must come to a head soon. It seems unlikely to us that employment can continue rising while the economy is flatlining." | |
| ONS said the number of vacancies, at 494,000, was the highest since the end of 2008. Earlier on Wednesday, restaurant chain McDonald's said it would create 2,500 jobs in the UK this year. | |
| John Philpott, director of the consultancy The Jobs Economist, welcomed the announcement, adding, "there is talk amongst many employers of additional hiring". | |
| However, he noted there had also been several announcements of redundancies. "I think the picture for the coming months will see continued growth in jobs, but not at the kind of pace we saw in 2012. | |
| "The likelihood is that by the summer of this year, unemployment will be rising, (but) not dramatically," he added. |