16-04-2008
ONS reveals fall in UK unemployment levels
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The UK's Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed a fall in the country's unemployment levels.
According to data released by the organisation, over the course of a three-month period finishing at the end of February 2008, unemployment in the UK dropped to a rate of 1.61 million, representing a fall of 39,000.
However, over the same period a total of 27,000 jobs were shed in the UK's manufacturing sector.
"Overall, the labour market remains in fairly good health – but the unambiguous robustness seen just a few months ago is starting to fade," said Vicky Redwood, an economist at Capital Economics, a research consultancy firm specialising in macroeconomics.
Ms Redwood made her comments in a report by the BBC.
The ONS figures also identified that the number of individuals in receipt of jobseeker's allowance decreased to 794,300 in March - a fall of 1,200.
Oversight of the ONS is conducted by the UK Statistics Authority.