UK unemployment rate falls in second quarter

The UK's unemployment rate fell in the second quarter of the year, from 8.2% to 8%, although the number of young jobseekers climbed over the period.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for the three months to June showed the unemployment rate was 8% of the economically active population, down 0.2% on the quarter. There were a total of 2.56 million unemployed people, down 46,000 on the quarter. The employment rate for those aged from 16 to 64 was 71%, up 0.4% on the quarter. Total pay (including bonuses) rose by 1.6% on a year earlier, up 0.1 on the three months to May 2012. Regular pay (excluding bonuses) rose by 1.8 per cent on a year earlier, unchanged on the three months to May 2012.