UK unemployment posts surprise fall to 4.7% as vacancies hit three-year low

UK unemployment unexpectedly fell to 4.7% in the three months to August, while job vacancies dropped to their lowest level since 2021, official data shows.

• UK unemployment fell to 4.7% in the three months to August, down from 4.9% and below economists' forecast of 5%.
• The number of payrolled employees rose by 13,000 between August and September, to 30.3 million.
• Job vacancies fell by 21,000 to 691,000 in the three months to September, the lowest level since 2021.
• The ONS said small firms cited labour costs as a key factor in scaling back recruitment.