LONDON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The number of people with jobs in Britain has increased by more than half a million compared to last year, according to figures released on Wednesday.
It means the current unemployment rate is 4.9 percent, compared to 5.4 percent a year earlier.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) cover two full months after the June 23 referendum when Britain voted to leave the European Union.
ONS said in the June to August review period there were 31.81 million people in work, 106,000 more than in the previous quarter of 2016, and 560,000 more than for a year earlier.
ONS said over 23 million people have full-time jobs, 362,000 more than for a year earlier, with the number of people working part-time up by 198,000 to almost 8.6 million.
It meant the employment rate among working-age people between 16 and 64, was 74.5 percent, the joint highest since records began in 1971.
But ONS reported that the number of men and women unemployed, but seeking work, was 1.66 million in the June to August quarter, 10,000 more than for March to May 2016, but 118,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
Among the jobseekers there were 891,000 unemployed men, 12,000 fewer than for March to May 2016 and 81,000 fewer than for a year earlier. The number of job-seeking women was 765,000, a rise of 23,000 over the previous quarter, but 37,000 fewer than for a year earlier.
ONS also reported that average weekly earnings for employees in Britain in nominal terms have increased by 2.3 percent compared with a year earlier.
Agency statistician Nick Palmer said: "These figures show that employment continued to grow over the summer and vacancies remain at high levels, suggesting continuing confidence in the economy. While there was also a small rise in the headline unemployment level, that was accompanied by more people actively seeking work."
The figures show the unemployment rate in Scotland at 4.6 percent is lower than the British average.
Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell said: "Unemployment is falling again in Scotland and is now at its lowest level since 2008. But it is worrying that employment is down and more people are dropping out of the labor market in Scotland when the rest of the UK is seeing employment up."
The ONS figures show that in June to August the number of employed people in Scotland fell by 8,000 compared to the previous quarter.
Alun Cairns, Secretary of State for Wales, said: "The figures are the latest glimpse of the jobs market in Wales post-EU referendum vote and they suggest the Welsh economy continues to power ahead."
Frances O'Grady, general secretary of Britain's leading trades union body, the TUC, said: "Pay growth remains weak by historical standards, and inflation is getting higher. The worry is that families are heading towards another fall in living standards.
"Working people must not be left to pay the price of Brexit through lower wages and higher inflation. The Chancellor of the Exchequer must use his Autumn Statement to protect growth and create well-paid work by investing in the construction of roads, railways and homes. And he must protect the living standards of the lowest paid workers by increasing the minimum wage," she added.
