UK unemployment has fallen by 36,000 to 2.46 million in the first quarter of 2011, 0.1% down on the previous quarter, figures from Office for National Statistics (ONS) show.
Unemployment in the UK now stands at 7.7%, with the number of employed people having risen by 118,000 to 29.24 million compared to a pre-recession peak of 29.56 million, recorded at the end of the second quarter of 2008. According to the ONS, the quarterly increase in employment was driven by more people gaining full time jobs, which increased by 94,000 on the quarter to reach 21.3 million. The figures also show the amount of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance rose by 12,400 in April to 1.47 million. Those who are inactive, either not in employment or claiming Jobseekers', total...
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