UK employment steady, wages pick up

London - The UK economy lost fewer jobs than expected and wage growth picked up toward the end of 2016, suggesting the labour market remains relatively resilient.

The number of people in work fell by 9 000 to 31.8 million in the three months through November; whereas economists had predicted a 35 000 decline.

The jobless rate stayed at 4.8%, the lowest since 2005.

The labour market has cooled since the end of 2015, when it was adding more than 200 000 jobs a quarter, but there are few signs of hiring going into reverse as Britain prepares to begin negotiations to leave the European Union.

Unemployment fell by 52 000 to 1.6 million over the period, as the drop in the number of people in work more than offset those leaving the workforce.

In November alone, the jobless rate stayed at 4.9%.

Jobless claims - a narrower measure of unemployment - unexpectedly declined in December, by 10 100.

While consumer spending has helped the economy perform solidly since the June referendum, a slowdown is predicted this year as a pound-induced pickup in inflation squeezes household incomes.

In the latest three months, annual wage growth accelerated to 2.8% from 2.6%. Excluding bonuses, the rate picked up to 2.7%.