UK Unemployment for the last quarter has dropped by a total of 82,000 to 2.51 million, the largest drop in ten years, to 7.8% of the total workforce.

The number of people in employment at this time is a record at 29.6 million.

The majority of the reduction has been in the 16-24 category where the numbers dropped back through the one million barrier with 945,000 out of work, a reduction of 72,000.

The Government drive to reduce costs in the public sector continues with a drop in the positions available by 24,000, being covered in the private sector by a rise of 65,000 jobs.