The CBI today commented on the latest official labour market data, showing that employment rose by 201,000 in the three months to June, while unemployment fell by 46,000. The number of people claiming Jobseekers Allowance fell by 5,900.

Neil Carberry, CBI Director for Employment and Skills, said:

“This latest labour market data continues the trend of robust performance, given the recent GDP figures. Alongside a rise in overall employment, it’s particularly pleasing to see more people are finding full-time jobs.

The overall high level of unemployment, especially among young people leaving education, remains a significant challenge. We also need to ensure that the private sector can create jobs across the UK, as the numbers point to a wide variation in regional performance.

These need to be areas of particular focus for the Government in the autumn.”