UK employment rate at joint record high

A booming higher-skill jobs market is driving continued record employment in the UK, new figures published on Tuesday from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.

14.8 million are now employed in higher skilled roles, from professional tradespeople to scientists, nurses and accountants – a boost of 2.6 million since 2010, making up over 75% of the growth in employment.

Unemployment also remains at its lowest rate since the 1970s at 3.8%, as the figures also showed a record proportion of people from ethnic minorities are now in work, at 66.5%.

"Maintaining our record employment rate with unemployment falling again to just 3.8%, its lowest rate since 1974, once again shows the success of our balanced approach to managing the economy," Minister of State for Employment Alok Sharma said.

Wage growth also continued its upward trend this month, growing by 3.2%, a 1.3% rise in real terms.

Figures also show 3.9 million people from ethnic minority backgrounds are in work. Despite this encouraging trend, the department is going further to support workers in these groups. Rolling out new jobcentre programmes such as mentoring circles and establishing closer working links with local community centres and mosques.