UK unemployment rate drops to 6.5%, latest figures from the ONS can reveal

The level of unemployment across the UK dropped to 6.5% (or 2.12 million people), 121,000 fewer than for December 2013 to February 2014 and 383,000 fewer than a year earlier, the latest figures from the ONS were able to reveal.

The unemployment rate is the proportion of the economically active population (those in work plus those seeking and available to work) who were unemployed.

Comparing the estimates for March to May 2014 with those for December 2013 to February 2014, employment continued to rise and unemployment continued to fall, with 30.64 million people in work, 254,000 more than for December 2013 to February 2014 and 929,000 more than a year earlier.

Data from the Office for National Statistics also revealed that, for March to May 2014, there were 8.78 million economically inactive people (those out of work but not seeking or available to work) aged from 16 to 64. This was 67,000 fewer than for December 2013 to February 2014 and 258,000 fewer than a year earlier.

Pay including bonuses for employees in Great Britain for March to May 2014 was 0.3% higher than a year earlier, with pay excluding bonuses 0.7% higher.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “It’s good to see unemployment falling, but with pay growth falling to a record low, serious questions must be asked about the quality of jobs being created in Britain today.

“If all the recovery can deliver is low-paid, low-productivity jobs – many of which don’t offer enough hours to get by – then it will pass most working people by and Britain’s long-term economic prospects will be seriously diminished.”