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Unemployment climbs while wage growth improves

The UK unemployment rate rose for the first time this year in the three months to September, official figures show.

Joblessness climbed from 4% to 4.1% as the number of people classed as unemployed rose by 21,000 to 1.38 million, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

But the rate was still close to 43-year lows while those in work saw further improvements in their pay packets as average weekly earnings - excluding bonuses - rose by 3.2%.

That was up from 3.1% recorded the month before and the highest rate of wage growth since the three months to December 2008.

In real terms, stripping out inflation - pay was up by 0.9%, the highest rate since the end of 2016.

ONS senior statistician Matt Hughes said: "The labour market is little changed on the previous three months, though still stronger than it was at this time last year.

"With (Other OTC: WWTH - news) faster wage growth and more subdued inflation, real earnings have picked up noticeably in the last few months.

"However, real wage growth is below the level seen in 2015, and real wages have not yet returned to their 2008 levels."

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