Latest labour market data

The latest jobs market data has just been published  - key points below. Any thoughts, whizz them across ASAP as this story is BREAKING.

• the UK employment rate (for those aged 16 to 64 years) increased by 0.1 percentage points on the quarter to 75.8%
• the UK unemployment rate (for those aged 16 years and over) was largely unchanged on the quarter at 4.2%
• the UK economic inactivity rate (for those aged 16 to 64 years) decreased by 0.1 percentage points on the quarter to 20.8%In October to December 2023, the estimated number of vacancies in the UK fell by 49,000 on the quarter to 934,000. Vacancies fell on the quarter for the 18th consecutive period, the longest consecutive run of quarterly falls ever recorded but still above pre-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic levels.
• Annual growth in regular earnings (excluding bonuses) in Great Britain was 6.6% in September to November 2023, and annual growth in employees' average total earnings (including bonuses) was 6.5% in September to November 2023. Annual growth in real terms (adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs (CPIH)) for total pay rose on the year by 1.3% in September to November 2023, and for regular pay rose on the year by 1.4%.
• The estimate of payrolled employees in the UK for December 2023 decreased by 24,000 on the revised November 2023 figure to 30.2 million. The December 2023 estimate should be treated as a provisional estimate and is likely to be revised when more data are received next month.