Wages have risen while unemployment unexpectedly saw no change, official figures show.
Average weekly earnings rose 6%, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed, while wages – excluding bonuses – grew 5.9%, despite economists expecting a 5.8% rise.
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Even when inflation is factored in wages are still rising.
Both private and public sector worker pay saw an increase.
The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.4%. A rise was anticipated by economists who were polled by the Reuters news agency.
The ONS, however, has advised caution in interpreting changes in the monthly unemployment rate due to questions over the reliability of the figures.
The exact number of unemployed people is not known – partly because people don’t answer the phone when the ONS calls.
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