Buoyant jobs market eases pressure on Bank of England to cut rates

Number in employment hits joint record high of 32.9 million in three months to November

Britain's jobs market staged a stronger than expected recovery in the three months to November, according to official figures, easing pressure on Bank of England policymakers to cut interest rates at their meeting next week.

The number of people in employment jumped by 208,000 over the period to a joint record high of 32.9 million, nearly double the 110,000 increase forecast by economists.