") no-repeat center center;background-size:10px 16px;content:' '}@media(min-width:768px){.gpjOba::before{display:none}}.kWYnHL{min-height:389px;margin-bottom:16px;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.kWYnHL{min-height:380px}}.hWxisF{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}@media(min-width:768px){.hWxisF{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.hWxisF{max-width:622px}}.dvfakS{display:flex;width:auto;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;gap:4px;color:#ec1a2e}.ctXiMg{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.CRIit{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.CRIit:hover .sc-aja53j-2,.CRIit:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.ghJHgZ{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.jlvSeZ{display:flex;position:relative;overflow:hidden;width:auto;height:40px;flex-direction:column;order:-1;gap:8px;opacity:1;transition:all .5s ease-in-out;transition-behavior:allow-discrete}.jlvSeZ::after{--fade-from:rgba(255,255,255,0);--fade-mid:rgba(255,255,255,0.5);--fade-to:#fff;position:absolute;bottom:0;left:0;z-index:1;width:100%;height:40px;background-image:linear-gradient(to bottom,var(--fade-from) 0,var(--fade-mid) 50%,var(--fade-to) 100%);content:'';opacity:1;transition:opacity 150ms ease-out}@media(min-width:768px){.ifXxYf{order:-1}}@media(min-width:768px){.gYsKvs{display:flex;position:relative;align-items:flex-start;margin-top:12px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg .taboola{display:none}}.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails){min-height:426px}.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:405px}@media(min-width:1000px){.qHctg:has(#taboola-carousel-thumbnails),.qHctg:has(#taboola-mid-article-thumbnails-crime){min-height:0}}.hCEqSm .tp-container-inner,.hCEqSm .sc-1suqprf-0{position:relative;box-shadow:0 -22px 16px 22px rgba(255,255,255,0.95)}.hCEqSm.closed{display:none}.jZkFWa{width:32px;color:#3b5998}@media(min-width:768px){.jZkFWa.mobile-only{display:none}}.jZkFWa:hover{color:#2f4779}.iyaxjG{width:32px;color:#000}@media(min-width:768px){.iyaxjG.mobile-only{display:none}}.iyaxjG:hover{color:#4e4e4e}.bxTlJH{width:32px;color:#25d366}@media(min-width:768px){.bxTlJH.mobile-only{display:none}}.bxTlJH:hover{color:#1da851}.cSnwsm{width:32px;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.cSnwsm.mobile-only{display:none}}.cSnwsm:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.wViVX{display:flex;gap:12px}.kWPFaS{position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483644;background:rgba(0,0,0,0.5);cursor:pointer;opacity:0;transition:opacity 300ms ease-in-out}.kWPFaS.overlay-background--open{width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:1}.gXmchn{--trans:300ms ease-in-out;position:fixed;top:0;left:0;z-index:2147483645;width:100vw;height:100vh;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transform:translateY(-24px);transform-origin:top center;transition:transform var(--trans),opacity var(--trans)}.gXmchn.overlay--open{opacity:1;transform:translateY(0);transition-delay:150ms}.gXmchn.overlay--open>:first-child{pointer-events:auto}.cArLiK .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1,.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:block}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-0{display:none}.cArLiK.bookmark-button-saved:hover .sc-17yxc4y-1{display:block}.jKfqFn{--margin-x:12px;--modal-width:calc(100% - (var(--margin-x) * 2));--modal-max-width:351px;--padding:60px 16px 42px;--line-height:1.25;display:flex;position:fixed;top:50%;left:50%;overflow:auto;width:var(--modal-width);max-width:var(--modal-max-width);max-height:100vh;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:var(--padding);background-color:#eaf2f2;box-shadow:0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);line-height:var(--line-height);transform:translate(-50%,-50%)}@media(min-width:768px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:600px;--modal-max-width:none;--padding:72px 80px 64px;--line-height:1.2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.jKfqFn{--modal-width:635px}}.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:16px;position:absolute;top:var(--close-button-margin);right:var(--close-button-margin)}@media(min-width:768px){.eYHQuU{--close-button-margin:24px}}.gVWZyJ{width:100%;max-width:437px;margin-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.gVWZyJ{margin-bottom:18px}}.gvKsFx{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;width:.01em;height:.01em;padding:0;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);white-space:nowrap}.loKuIs{width:100%;margin:0}.ktFUxH{margin:0 0 30px;font:bold 26px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}@media(min-width:768px){.ktFUxH{font:bold 28px/1.15 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif}}.cnAboz{display:block;width:100%;padding:0;margin:0 0 30px;font:normal 16px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.cnAboz{font:normal 20px/1.44 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.bdfufZ{display:block;margin-top:30px;color:#222;font:normal 16px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.cVoYmY{padding:0}.ldnLrS{display:inline-block;width:32px;height:32px;color:#337e81}.ixvYXS{display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:center;gap:12px}.hCHeth{display:flex;position:relative;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.hCHeth{justify-content:flex-end;padding-top:12px;margin:0}}.hvJvAA{display:flex}.sticky .hvJvAA{flex-direction:column}.kciiLJ{overflow:hidden;height:23px;margin-bottom:8px;border-bottom:0;clear:both}@media(min-width:768px){.kciiLJ{height:25px}}.fSsEip{display:inline-block;flex-shrink:0;margin:0 12px 0 0;font:bold 14px/normal 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fSsEip::after{content:':'}.kdqbii{display:inline-block;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:4px;color:#222;font:normal 14px/1.29 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration:underline}.kdqbii::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}@media(min-width:1000px){.subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-184px}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .subscribed .lkPksW{margin-top:-407px}}.lkPksW>p{margin:16px 0}.article-premium .lkPksW>p{line-height:27px}.lkPksW>h2{font-size:21px}.article-climate .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.article-sgi .lkPksW>h2{color:#ec1a2e}.lkPksW>p:first-child{margin-top:0}.lkPksW span:first-child~p:first-of-type{margin-top:0}.cnknzo{display:flex;position:relative;max-width:100%;min-height:600px;justify-content:center;margin:0 auto;background-color:transparent;clear:both}@media(min-width:1000px){.cnknzo{min-height:450px}}.teads .cnknzo{display:block}.cnknzo [data-mpu]{position:sticky;top:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.dTdlgq{display:none}}.dTdlgq[data-mpu1]{min-height:600px}.dTdlgq.pb-20{padding-bottom:20px}.gMxIQB{margin:0 0 24px;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.fJIQUi{font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.eFDpwi{overflow:hidden;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:768px){.eFDpwi{max-width:634px}}@media(min-width:1250px){.eFDpwi{max-width:622px}}.jkkqcL{width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;padding:8px 12px 12px;border-top:8px solid #ec1a2e;background-color:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:768px){.jkkqcL{padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:12px}}.dDFcwe{font:bold 22px/26px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;margin:0 0 12px;text-align:center}@media(min-width:768px){.dDFcwe{font:bold 30px/34px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.048px;margin-bottom:12px;text-align:left}}.jbPJqN{display:block;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.jbPJqN{display:none}}.fdEOdF{display:flex;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px;background-color:#fde8ea;color:#ec1a2e}@media(min-width:768px){.fdEOdF{width:auto;justify-content:flex-start}}.bcQtEw{display:block;font:bold 14px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;text-decoration-line:underline;margin-block:0;text-align:center}.jIgCsj{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:4px}.jIgCsj:hover .sc-hez36s-5,.jIgCsj:hover .sc-a5wy94-0{color:#ac2a2c}.bhFQeV{font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}.kqOtlp{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column}@media(min-width:768px){.kqOtlp{display:flow-root;gap:24px;transition:margin-bottom .3s ease-in-out}}.bvgAkY{display:flex;width:100%;flex-direction:column;align-items:center;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:768px){.bvgAkY{position:relative;z-index:1;width:212px;flex-shrink:0;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:24px;float:right}}.ZbvOr{display:none;flex-direction:row;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px}@media(min-width:768px){.ZbvOr{display:flex;margin-top:12px}}.cqHcKs{display:flex;width:100%;align-items:center;justify-content:center;gap:8px;margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:12px}@media(min-width:768px){.cqHcKs{display:none}}@media(min-width:768px){.bjQKsM{order:-1}}.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5::after{--fade-from:rgba(253,232,234,0);--fade-mid:rgba(253,232,234,0.5);--fade-to:#fde8ea}@media(min-width:360px){.gBaKpR .sc-aja53j-5 .sc-aja53j-7{display:none}}.dVyExd{display:flex;min-height:600px;justify-content:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.dVyExd{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm{min-height:600px}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm{min-height:450px}}.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:block}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.mobile-only{display:none}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.jHlYLm.desktop-only{display:block;margin-bottom:16px}}.jHlYLm.desktop-only+p{margin-top:0}.jHlYLm .third-party-ad{position:sticky;top:16px}.czoMqL{width:100%;flex-grow:1}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{display:block;overflow:hidden;max-height:360px}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide] .social-share{display:none}.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide].show-all-content{max-height:100%}@media(max-width:594px){.czoMqL .amp-article-content[amp-access][amp-access-hide]{max-height:530px}}.czoMqL .amp-newsletter-reg-gate{position:relative;left:-12px;width:calc(100% + 24px)}.czoMqL .social-share{width:100%;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:20px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL .social-share{justify-content:flex-start}}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:none}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL .social-share.sticky{display:flex;position:sticky;top:14px;width:34px;flex-direction:column;padding-top:0;margin-top:0;margin-left:-25%}.czoMqL .social-share.sticky amp-social-share,.czoMqL .social-share.sticky .sc-mgcah7-0{margin:0 0 16px}.article-feature-video .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:0}.article-feature:not(.article-feature-video) .czoMqL .social-share.sticky{margin-top:35%}}.czoMqL.sponsored-article img,.czoMqL.sponsored-article video{width:100%;max-width:602px;height:auto}.czoMqL.sponsored-article iframe{max-width:602px;max-height:400px}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{padding-bottom:8px;margin-top:-3px}.czoMqL .big-letter{--color:#222;display:flex;position:relative;width:0;height:0;align-items:center;justify-content:center;padding:40px;margin-top:22px;margin-right:12px;border:1px solid var(--color);float:left;font:normal 52px/1 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;text-transform:uppercase}.czoMqL .big-letter:first-child{margin-top:6px}.czoMqL .big-letter::before{position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid var(--color);border-radius:50%;content:''}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:2350px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1{min-height:3370px}}.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:130px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL #taboola-below-article-1-split-num-1{min-height:415px}}.czoMqL .sc-fwko30-0+.sc-1xtsh2b-0{margin-top:-16px}@media(min-width:768px){.czoMqL{max-width:636px;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.czoMqL{max-width:624px;margin:0}.czoMqL.subscribed{max-width:636px}}@media(max-width:999px){.czoMqL{padding-right:0}.czoMqL .under-article-prompt-donations{margin-top:-18px}}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header{scroll-margin-top:79px}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a{color:#222}.czoMqL .anchor-nav-header a:hover{color:#222}.clVPNf{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:8px;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.clVPNf{width:70%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-start;margin-bottom:0;font:normal 16px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.clVPNf{width:70%;margin-bottom:0}}.hIiCJP{display:flex;height:20px;margin:0 12px 8px 0}.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:auto}@media(min-width:425px){.article-voices .hIiCJP{height:20px}}.hIiCJP::before{display:inline-block;align-self:center;margin-top:1px;margin-right:12px;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.hIiCJP:first-child::before{content:none}@media(min-width:768px){.hIiCJP{height:24px;margin-bottom:0}.hIiCJP::before{margin-top:2px}}.hIiCJP time{display:block}.hIiCJP time::first-letter {text-transform:capitalize}.eNJptR{display:inline-block;margin:0 12px 8px 0;color:#ec1a2e;font:bold 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;letter-spacing:-0.5px}.eNJptR:hover,.eNJptR:active{color:#ac2a2c}@media(min-width:768px){.eNJptR{margin-bottom:0}}.cePgis{margin:0 4px 8px 0}.cePgis::before{display:inline-block;margin-top:2px;margin-right:12px;color:#646464;content:'\2022';transform:scale(1.5)}.cePgis:first-child::before{display:none}@media(min-width:768px){.cePgis{margin-bottom:0}}.kuCYzg{display:flex;justify-content:flex-start;padding:0;margin:0 0 16px}@media(min-width:768px){.kuCYzg{display:flex;width:30%;align-items:center;justify-content:flex-end;margin:0}}@media(min-width:1000px){.kuCYzg{width:30%}}.gpMjkH{padding-top:0;border-top:0;border-bottom:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gpMjkH{display:flex;flex-flow:row wrap;padding-bottom:16px}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-0{order:1}.gpMjkH .sc-1qz44j0-6{order:2}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gpMjkH{flex-direction:row}}.hUayVl{padding:16px 12px 12px;text-align:left;font:bold 14px/18px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.hUayVl{padding:16px 16px 12px}}.article-infact .hUayVl{padding:16px 0}@media(min-width:1000px){.hUayVl{padding:24px 0 19px}.article-feature .hUayVl{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto}}.hUayVl a{color:#222}.hUayVl a:hover{color:#ac2a2c}.hUayVl a:hover::after{color:#222}.hUayVl a::after{margin-right:4px;margin-left:4px;content:'>'}.hUayVl a:last-child::after{display:none}.bPeEQC{margin:0 0 20px;letter-spacing:0}.iHWilb{margin:0;color:#646464;font:normal 16px/20px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}@media(min-width:768px){.iHWilb{font:normal 18px/22px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}@media(min-width:1000px){.iHWilb{font:normal 20px/24px 'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif}}.iHWilb p{font:inherit}.article-feature .iHWilb a{font-weight:bold}.gRuXKg{max-width:968px;margin:0 auto;background:#fff}@media(min-width:1000px){.gRuXKg{padding:0 16px}.parallax .gRuXKg{max-width:1240px}}.clZtvZ{font:bold 32px/36px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0156em}@media(min-width:768px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 44px/48px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0113em}}@media(min-width:1000px){.clZtvZ{font:bold 54px/58px 'Indy Serif','Indy Serif Fallback',serif;letter-spacing:-0.0092em}}.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-0{margin:0 12px}@media(min-width:768px){.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-0{max-width:968px;margin-right:16px;margin-left:16px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-0{margin-right:auto;margin-left:auto}}.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:16px;color:#222}@media(min-width:768px){.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-2{margin-bottom:18px}}@media(min-width:1000px){.gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-2{margin-top:0}}.article-feature .gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-2{text-align:center}@media(min-width:1000px){.article-feature .gLQzaj .sc-qvufca-2{max-width:968px}}.gLQzaj .sc-aeekvc-0{margin-bottom:16px}@media(min-width:1000px){.gLQzaj .sc-aeekvc-0{max-width:968px}}.gLQzaj .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-top:0}@media(min-width:768px){.gLQzaj .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:16px}}@media(min-width:2560px){.gLQzaj .sc-aeekvc-0 p{margin-bottom:12px}}.ldpSwp{--bleed:12px;display:flex;box-sizing:border-box;flex-direction:row;gap:32px;padding:16px var(--bleed);background-color:#fff}.article-liveblog .ldpSwp{background-color:#f7f7f7}@media(min-width:768px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:0;max-width:1000px;margin:0 auto}}@media(min-width:1000px){.ldpSwp{--bleed:16px;max-width:1000px;padding:var(--bleed)}}.ilJfaV{overflow:hidden;height:0;color:transparent}.fIgmuu{max-width:100%;margin:0 0 20px}.fIgmuu.sticky{position:sticky;top:16px}.grPbuS{min-height:600px}.grPbuS #mpu1{position:sticky;top:16px}.jfSvuX{min-height:250px}.kdHApG{max-width:100%}.dgoHoz{margin:0 0 6px;color:#646464;font-family:'Indy Sans','Indy Sans Fallback',sans-serif;font-size:15px}.eSkAOW{margin:0 0 12px}.ctSnkl{height:380px}.cCOQKx{width:100%;height:51px}.NgRo{margin-bottom:16px;border-bottom:1px solid #919191}.ksidoU{margin-bottom:16px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']{position:relative;margin-bottom:12px;border-bottom:1px solid #d3d3d3}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0{display:flex;position:absolute;bottom:16px;left:10px;width:32px;height:32px;align-items:center;justify-content:center;border-radius:50%;background-color:#ec1a2e}.ksidoU [role='listitem'] .sc-u4n1j-0>svg{width:90%;fill:#fff;stroke:transparent}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child{display:block;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child .sc-u4n1j-0{top:-15px;bottom:auto;left:12px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:first-child{display:block;width:100%;height:205px}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:first-child>*:last-child{--content-bg:#222;--content-bg-opaque:rgba(34,34,34,0.7);position:absolute;bottom:0;width:100%;padding:28px 12px 12px;background:linear-gradient(to top,var(--content-bg) 70%,var(--content-bg-opaque) 100%) no-repeat;color:#fff;font-size:17px;font-weight:bold}.ksidoU [role='listitem']:last-child{margin-bottom:0;border-bottom:0 none}.bhdekM{min-height:1924px}@media(max-width:767px){.bhdekM{display:none}}.dvQXpA{width:308px}.dvQXpA.hidden{display:none}@media(max-width:999px){.dvQXpA{display:none}}.article-liveblog .bZTaXI{background-color:#f7f7f7}.wQyIS{justify-content:center}.jQYxbM{justify-content:center}
Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Not now Yes please
News Business UK unemployment up as wage growth continues to be outstripped by soaring costs Latest Office for National Statistics figures also show vacancies fell by another 47,000 to 1.1 million in the three months to March
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Subscribe Already subscribed? Log in The number of vacancies also began to fall (Rex) Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference. Read more Britain’s unemployment rate has risen and vacancies have fallen for the ninth month in a row as the uncertain economic outlook begins to take its toll on the UK jobs market, official figures have shown.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the unemployment rate lifted to 3.8% in the three months to February, up from 3.7% in the previous three months.
Most economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged.
The data also revealed that vacancies fell by another 47,000 to 1.1 million in the three months to March.
The ONS said this reflects “uncertainty across industries, as survey respondents continue to cite economic pressures as a factor in holding back on recruitment”.
But the figures also showed a rise in employment – to 75.8% in the three months to February from 75.7% in the previous three months – as more people returned to the jobs market in the face of the cost-of-living crisis.
Wage growth continues to be outstripped by soaring costs, with total pay including bonuses down by 4.1% when Consumer Prices Index inflation is taken into account – this comes despite a 5.9% rise in earnings, according to the ONS.
Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: “With the number of people neither working nor looking for a job down again, there were rises in both those in work and those actively looking for a job.
“However, while the group outside the labour market – termed ‘economically inactive’ – fell, the number among them who were long-term sick rose to a new record high.
“Job vacancies have fallen again but remain at very high levels.
“Meanwhile, pay continues to grow more slowly than prices, so earnings are still falling in real terms, although the gap between public and private sector earnings growth continues to narrow.”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “While unemployment remains close to historic lows, rising prices continue to eat into pay cheques which is why halving inflation this year is one of our top economic priorities.
“To help families in the meantime, we are making work pay with a record increase in the National Living Wage, while providing cost of living support worth an average of £3,300 per household this year and last, funded through windfall taxes on energy profits.”
Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments