UK unemployment at near five-year high: official

London: Britain s unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent at the end of last year, official data showed Tuesday, as companies trimmed staff amid UK...

London: Britain's unemployment rate remained at 5.1 percent at the end of last year, official data showed Tuesday, as companies trimmed staff amid UK budget uncertainty.

The near five-year high rate for the three months to the end of November was unchanged from the quarter ending October 31, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

The latest unemployment reading, matching analyst expectations, covered the period ahead of the Labour government's budget in late November which saw businesses cut staff ahead of expected tax rises.

Tuesday's figures also updated the situation regarding wages.

ONS director of economic statistics, Liz McKeown, noted that during the reporting period, "wage growth in the private sector has slowed to its lowest rate in five years, while public sector wage growth remains elevated".