Estimates from the Labour Force Survey show that, between May to July 2017 and August to October 2017, the number of people in work fell, the number of unemployed people also fell, and the number of people aged from 16 to 64 not working and not seeking or available to work (economically inactive) increased.

There were 32.08 million people in work, 56,000 fewer than for May to July 2017 but 325,000 more than for a year earlier.

There were 1.43 million unemployed people (people not in work but seeking and available to work), 26,000 fewer than for May to July 2017 and 182,000 fewer than for a year earlier.

The unemployment rate (the proportion of those in work plus those unemployed, that were unemployed) was 4.3%, down from 4.8% for a year earlier and the joint lowest since 1975.