Employment rate reaches joint record high

people walking to work employment
Image provided by Shutterstock

UK employment rate has reached a joint record high, according to the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

The employment rate currently stands at 75.3 per cent – up from 74.6 per cent in 2017. The current rate is the joint highest since records began.

ONS figures show that 402,000 more people moved into employment last year. The unemployment rate has not been lower since 1975, and the number of people out of work is down by 127,000 compared to a year ago.

Female employment is also at a record high of 70.9 per cent, with over 15 million women in work – a rise of 234,000 on the year.

The government is also implementing further ways to help people benefit from working. In April this year, the National Living Wage is set to increase from £7.50 an hour, to £7.83, equating to a £600 annual pay rise for full-time workers on basic pay.

Also in April, the amount of money people can earn before they start paying income tax will rise.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Esther McVey said, “Getting a job means securing an income for a family and the chance to build a better future.”

“That’s why up and down the country we are doing all we can to help people into work.”

“And from next month, we’ll be taking thousands more people out of paying tax and also increasing the National Living Wage, benefiting those on the lowest pay and making sure they keep more of what they earn.”

“In fact by raising the National Living Wage we have ensured that the lowest earners have seen their wages grow by almost seven per cent above inflation since 2015.”

WeAreTheCity logo

More results...

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Search in posts
portfolio
page
ajde_events
Filter by Categories
16 days events
16 Days Inspirational Women
16 Days Resources
Amazon Insights
Applying for Jobs
ARCHIVE
Articles - Health and Wellbeing
Awards
Awards News
Awareness Articles
Behind The Cover
Biographies
Black History Month
Black History Month - Inspirational Profiles
Black History Month - Resources
Black History Month Events
Blogs
Business News
Business Schools
Business Schools & Universities
Career Books
Career Development
Career Podcasts
Careers Advice
Careers for women
charities
Christmas at work
Comedy Podcasts
Competitions
Competitions & Offers
Culture
Culture
Current Affairs
Current Affairs for Women
CV/ Resume
CV/Resume Books
DE&I
DE&I Books
Discounts
Discrimination & Inequality Books
Diversity
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity Awards
Diversity Reports
Divorce
Education
Education & Skills Books
Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Books
Equal Pay Day
Events
Events
Events News
Featuring Now
Featuring on WATC
Fertility Books
Financial
Flexible working
Gender News
Gender Reports
Gender Studies
General
Get involved
Giving Back
Health and Fitness
Health and Wellbeing
HeForShe
Inspirational Charity Women
Inspirational Corporate Women
Inspirational Female Campaigners
Inspirational Female Entrepreneurs
Inspirational Network Leaders
Inspirational Profiles
Inspirational Profiles - Health and Wellbeing
Inspirational Video Interviews
Inspirational Women in Sport
Inspirational women in tech
Inspirational Women in the Public Sector
Inspirational women in TV and Media
International Men's Day
International Men's Day Books
International Men's Day Events
International Men's Day Resources
International Women's Day
International Women's Day Events
International Women's Day News
International Women’s Day Resources
Interview Tips
Interview Tips
Investing in Women
Investment Books
Latest on WATC
Law Books
LGBTQ+ Books
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Meet the team
Meet the Team India
Meet the Team UK
Members
Members Clubs
Menopause
Menopause Awareness Inspirational Profiles
Menopause Awareness Month
Menopause Awareness Month Books
Menopause Awareness Month Events
Menopause Awareness Month Resources
Menopause Books
Menopause Podcasts
Menopause Reports
Morgan Stanley - Rising stars
Morgan Stanley Insights
Music
Networking Advice
Networking Groups
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity Books
News
News Archive
Open Returnships
Parenting
Parenting
Parenting & Family Books
Past Events
Period
Period
Personal Development
Personal Finance Books
Pioneer 20
Pioneer 20 2023
Pioneer 20 2024
Pioneer 20 News and updates
Podcasts
Politics
Previous Returnships
Previous WATC Events
Pride Month
Pride Month - Events
Pride Month - Inspirational Profiles
Pride Month - Resources
Professional development
Promotion
Psychology
Publications
Recommended Books
Recommended Events
remote working
Reports
Resources
Resources - Health and Wellbeing
Return to Work
Returning to work
Returnships
Rising Star Awards
She Talks Tech
Social Media
Social Media Books
Style & Beauty
Technology Reports
Themis20
Themis20 2024
Themis20 2024 news and updates
Thrive20
Thrive20 2023
Training
training
Universities
Vacancies
Vacancy of the week
Venues
Warwick Business School
WATC events
WATC Events In Pictures
WBS Articles
WBS Interviews
WeAreTechWomen
WeAreTheCity Events and Conferences
WeAreTheCity News
Webinars
Wellbeing
Wellness & Self Care Books
What Happened Next - Rising Stars
What impacts working women
Women Awards
women in business
Womens Health
Womens Health Books
Womens Rights
Work-Life Balance
Workplace Discrimination Help

NEWS & ARTICLES

EVENTS & CONFERENCES

CAREERS

WEARETECHWOMEN

AWARDS

NETWORKING

About the author

Alison is the Digital Content Editor for WeAreTheCity. She has a BA Honours degree in Journalism and History from the University of Portsmouth. She has previously worked in the marketing sector and in a copywriting role. Alison’s other passions and hobbies include writing, blogging and travelling.

Related Posts