UK unemployment falls for first time in Covid-19 pandemic

Jobless rate drops to 5% in three months to January, representing 1.7 million people

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Britain's jobs market showed signs of improvement in January with the first drop in unemployment since the coronavirus pandemic spread a year ago, despite renewed lockdown measures heaping pressure on the economy.

The Office for National Statistics said the unemployment rate fell back slightly to 5% in the three months to January, representing 1.7 million people - down from 5.1% in the three months to December. City economists had forecast a rise in the jobless rate to 5.2%. It comes as the government's furlough scheme continues to support the jobs market, with millions of people still on the emergency wage scheme.

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