Unemployment in the UK was largely flat at 2.67m in the three months to December, raising hopes that the deterioration in the economy and the labour market may be slowing down.
The figure was up by 48,000 on the previous quarter – half the rate of increase seen in recent months – but down slightly on the 2.68m in the September-November period.
With the number of job vacancies rising to 476,000 in the three months to January, economists suggested the worsening employment outlook had eased.
