British jobless rate holds at 4.9pc despite Brexit

AFP, LONDON: Britain’s jobless rate held at 4.9 per cent in the three months to the end of August, official data showed yesterday, signalling little impact thus far from the shock Brexit vote.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the June-August rate—a low for 11 years—matched the 4.9-per cent figure for the three month period that ended in July.
The nation’s jobless total meanwhile stood at 1.66 million people over the same period. That was 118,000 fewer than a year earlier. 
“All in all this (data) suggests that Brexit has hardly had any measurable impact on the UK labour market yet,” noted economist Kay Daniel Neufeld, at the Centre for Economics and Business Research think tank.
“Unemployment has been low throughout the year and wages continue to grow at a subdued but steady rate.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May has already stated that she will trigger the two-year process to exit the European Union by the end of March 2017, after the surprise approval of the Brexit referendum on June 23. 
Commentators also warn that the jobless rate could head higher before the end of this year.

 

British jobless rate holds at 4.9pc despite Brexit

AFP, LONDON: Britains jobless rate held at 4.9 per cent in the three months to the end of August, official data showed yesterday, signalling little impact thus far from the shock Brexit vote. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the June-August ratea low for 11 yearsmatched the 4.9-per cent figure for the three month period that ended in July. The nations jobless total meanwhile stood at 1.66 million people over the same period. That was 118,000 fewer than a year earlier. All in all this (data) suggests that Brexit has hardly had any measurable impact on the UK labour market yet, noted economist Kay Daniel Neufeld, at the Centre for Economics and Business Research think tank. Unemployment has been low throughout the year and wages continue to grow at a subdued but steady rate. British Prime Minister Theresa May has already stated that she will trigger the two-year process to exit the European Union by the end of March 2017, after the surprise approval of the Brexit referendum on June 23. Commentators also warn that the jobless rate could head higher before the end ofthis year.