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November 12, 2019UK LABOUR FORCE SURVEY, JULY TO SEPTEMBER 2019 
The UK Office for National Statistics reported today that the unemployment rate for the three-month period July 2019 to September 2019 was 3.8 per cent, little changed from the previous three month period at lows not previously seen since 1974. Compared with the previous three-month period (Apr-Jun19), the UK labour force and employment each declined by 0.2 per cent.
The UK unemployment rate was 4.1 per cent in Jul-Sep18. Over the last year, the UK labour force has increased by 0.7 per cent while employment grew by 1.0 per cent. The ONS notes that recent employment increases have been concentrated among women, particularly as older females stay in work longer after changes to the State Pension age for women.
The reduction in the UK unemployment rate observed over the last 5-6 years has resulted from rising employment outpacing the growth in the labour force. A similar trend of employment growth in excess of labour supply growth has been observed in Canada and Nova Scotia as well, but this has been more pronounced only in the last 2 years.
Sources: UK Office for National Statistics: Labour Market Overview and Employment, unemployment and economic inactivity;
Statistics Canada Table 14-10-0287-02 Labour force characteristics by age group, monthly, seasonally adjusted
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