Official figures released today show that the unemployment rate has fallen to 4.7 per cent - the lowest level in 12 years.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has confirmed that employment among 16 to 64-year-olds continues to run at a record high rate of 74.6 per cent, with 31.85million people in work - an increase of 315,000 on the year and more than 2.8million since 2010.

In the South West, 78.2 per cent of the population aged between 16 and 64 are employed, while 3.7 per cent are unemployed.

Minister for Employment Damian Hinds said: "I'm delighted by another set of record-breaking figures showing more people in work than ever before and unemployment falling to its lowest in 12 years.

"Employment is up, wages are up and there are more people working full time.

"This is good news for hard-working families across the UK as we continue to build a country that works for everyone.

"But we have more to do, which is why we're pressing ahead with our welfare reforms to ensure that it always pays to be in work."

Today's figures also show that there are 1.58million unemployed people, 106,000 fewer than this time last year.

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