ONS director of economic statistics Darren Morgan said: "The number of people in work grew in the second quarter of 2022, whilst the headline rates of unemployment and of people neither working nor looking for a job were little changed.

 

"Meanwhile, the total number of hours worked each week appears to have stabilised very slightly below pre-pandemic levels.

 

"Redundancies are still at very low levels.

 

"However, although the number of job vacancies remains historically very high, it fell for the first time since the summer of 2020."

 

Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi said: "Today's stats demonstrate that the jobs market is in a strong position, with unemployment lower than at almost any point in the past 40 years - good news in what I know are difficult times for people.

 

"This highlights the resilience of the UK economy and the fantastic businesses who are creating new jobs across the country.

 

"Although there are no easy solutions to the cost of living pressures people are facing, we are providing help where we can.

 

"We are delivering a £37bn package of help for households through cash grants and tax cuts so people can keep more of what they earn.

 

"And whilst we cannot completely shield everyone from these global economic shocks, we are targeting this support on millions of the most vulnerable people in our society: those on the lowest incomes, pensioners and disabled people."