Unemployment fell by 46,000 to 2.56m between April and June

UK unemployment reached its lowest level since July 2011 as the number of people without jobs fell by 46,000 to 2.56 million, according to the figures released by the Office for National Statistics today.

The unemployment rate fell from 8.2% in the previous quarter to 8%, with the London Olympics boosting the rise in employment.

During the quarter, employers created around 130,000 full-time jobs to reach 21.41 million, while the number of people working part-time hit a record high since records began in 1992, with the figures reaching 1.42 million – up 16,000.

The number of people in work increased by 201,000 to almost 30 million – the highest since last summer.

Work and Pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “These are positive and encouraging figures demonstrating the strength of our private sector – notwithstanding the difficult economic times it is still creating jobs, the vast majority of which are full time. Unemployment is falling and the claimant count is down.”

Youth unemployment was down by 4,000, but it failed to escape the 1 million with charities and industry experts warning that young people face the bleakest and toughest job markets in almost 20 years.

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Students looking to start their careers or continue in their education next month are facing the toughest climate for nearly 20 years.”

“It’s particularly worrying that long-term joblessness for young people is still rising, even as overall unemployment falls. If this continues we could lose a generation of talented and highly qualified youngsters to blighted careers, debt and under-achievement.”

Rajeeb Gurung