The jobless rate in the United Kingdom has fallen, according to the latest figures published today.

The number of Britons claiming unemployment benefit unexpectedly rose in April, posting its biggest rise in more than a year, although the figure was skewed by recent changes to benefit rules, data showed today.

The wider International Labour Organization measure of unemployment continued to paint a picture of a modest improvement in the labour market.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people without a job on the ILO measure fell by 36,000 in the three months to March, taking the jobless rate down to 7.7 per cent. That was below forecasts for a reading of 7.8 per cent and the lowest since the three months to September 2010.

The number of people claiming jobless benefit rose by 12,400 last month, following an upwardly revised increase of 6,400 in March. Analysts had forecast an unchanged reading.

The ONS said that recent changes in the rules for the entitlement to benefits of lone parents was driving up the number of claimants of jobseekers allowance.

Average weekly earnings growth including bonuses unexpectedly accelerated to 2.3 percent in the three months to March from 2.1 per cent in the three months to February, but is still well below the current rate of inflation. Excluding bonuses, average weekly earnings growth eased to 2.1 percent in the same period from 2.2 percent.

Reuters