Nick Clegg responds to labour market statistics: January 2015
The Deputy Prime Minister has made a statement on employment figures released today that show an increase in the number of people in work.
The latest鈥� 鈥媏mployment鈥� 鈥媐igures show that the number of people in work rose鈥� 37,000 this quarter and by鈥� 512,000 on the year, bringing total employment to a new record of 30.8鈥� million鈥�.
The unemployment rate has fallen below 6% for the first time since 2008, down 1.3%鈥� 鈥媝ercentage points鈥� 鈥媜n the year to 5.8%. There are now 1.91鈥� 鈥媘illion鈥� 鈥媝eople unemployed.
The female employment rate is also at a鈥� 鈥媙ew record high 鈥� reaching 68.2%, and there are a record 14.4鈥� million鈥� women in work.
Job vacancies have risen by 127,000 to hit a 14-year record high. There are around 700,000 job opportunities across the country鈥�. 鈥婩igures from the Office for National Statistics show that regular pay was up 1.8% and private sector pay was up 2.2%鈥�.鈥�
The Deputy Prime Minister鈥� Nick Clegg 鈥媠aid:
Today鈥檚 job figures are further proof that the economy is growing stronger. With a new record of 30.8 million people in jobs; more women in work than ever before; wages rising; and prices low due to inflation, it is encouraging to see the recovery is helping hardworking families up and down the country.
The coalition government is building a stronger economy 鈥� shifting away from an over-reliance on the city of London and creating thousands of jobs for people across Britain.