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UK unemployment rate falls to 4.9% and wages grow more than expected
Average weekly earnings excluding bonuses held at 3.4% as payrolls rose by 2,000 and job vacancies fell to 707,000, official figures showed.
Britain's unemployment rate dropped to 4.9% in the three months to April, better than the expected 5%, according to the Office for National Statistics .
Pay growth excluding bonuses held steady at 3.4%, beating forecasts of 3.2%, while real earnings adjusted for inflation rose by 0.3% during the same period.
Employment increased by 100,000 in the three months to April, exceeding the forecast of 80,000, though job vacancies are falling and may indicate weakening demand for workers.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden highlighted significant growth in employment and emphasized government programs aimed at supporting labor market stability.