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The jobless total was 2.34 million in the final quarter of last year, down by 125,000, giving a rate of 7.2%, while t he number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance dipped to 1.22 million in January, down by 27,000.

Employment now stands at more than 30 million, a rate of 72.1%, which is 0.6% higher than a year ago.

More than 900,000 young people are still unemployed and over 250,000 young people have been unemployed for over a year.

"Under-employment is now a bitter reality for millions of struggling families across the UK."

"Today's figures also show working people facing a cost-of-living crisis are over £1,600 a year worse off since David Cameron became Prime Minister.

the latest unemployment figures showed that the UK had a strong and flexible labour market, adding: " However, there are signs that the pace of improvement in the jobs market is slowing down. Although youth unemployment has fallen, the jobless level among 16 to 24-years-olds still stands at 917,000, which is far too high.

"Many people are also still working part-time, as they are unable to gain full-time employment."

"Mining investment is coming off, maybe not as quickly as people have been worrying about, but it's that growth transition, the pick-up in the non-mining side, where the evidence is still mixed,"

The numbers come just a day after Australia's central bank left its key interest rate unchanged at a record low 2.75%

Some analysts suggested that if growth continued to remain weak, the bank may be prompted to cut rates further to try to boost the economy.

Latest estimates show that 193,000 more people were in work between October and December, compared to the previous three months.

At the other end of the scale, of the regions with jobless rates of 5.4%

the main reason for its recent fall is a lack of good jobs.

0. But the number has been on the decline ever since -- a trend that was accelerated by the Great Recession.

We're operating way below potential,

There are now 90.5 million Americas who don't work and are not counted as part of the labor force. This excludes kids under the age of 16 and non civilians such as those in the military or in prison, but includes just about everyone else.

Whatever the reason, the fact that just over 63% of the population is engaged in the workforce is problematic. It means that a smaller chunk of the population is paying for promised entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. And if a smaller share of the country is working, it will also act as a drag on economic growth.

"We're not getting the economic growth or the tax payments that were expected when these promises were made

As the economy strengthens, the debate is focused on whether to double the tax in two stages or increase it more gradually, rather than whether or not to increase the tax.

Wage-earners' incomes also rose an annual 1.3 percent in July, increasing for the fifth straight month.

And the jobless rate improved for the second straight month to hit 3.8 percent in July, the lowest since October 2008.

e Bank of Japan have gambled on massive fiscal and monetary stimulus to spark life into the economy,

strengthening the case for a planned sales tax increase.

Pessimists have argued that the benefits of "Abenomics," a three-pillar strategy of fiscal and monetary stimulus combined with a long-term growth strategy, may be short-lived and won't prompt companies to spend more on investment and wages.

The Bank of Japan has a target of lifting inflation to 2 percent in about two years, a goal many analysts see as optimistic given the deflation that has dogged the economy.

Average total earnings, including bonuses, rose 1.4% in the three months to January compared with a year earlier, according to ONS figures released last month. Excluding bonuses, wages grew by 1.3%.

the growing economy is helping record numbers of people to find a job

The rise in employment is being fuelled by businesses and entrepreneurs across the country who are feeling increasingly confident with the improving economy

long-term economic plan is working

while youth unemployment had gone down, the rate was "still nearly three times the rate of unemployment as a whole

rise in employment was down to the increase in the number of self-employed

pensions secretary Rachel Reeves disagreed, saying "long-term youth unemployment has doubled

Earnings "remain below inflation"

North East of England has the highest unemployment rate in the UK, at 9.5%

South East, where the rate is lowest, only 5.2%

MPC members voted earlier this month to keep interest rates at 0.5%

The thinktank expects the unemployment rate to have dropped to 7% in the three months to February

This week's official data may show that the squeeze on real pay is now over.

"That said, falling real incomes didn't get in the way of robust consumer spending growth over the last year. Household spending growth outpaced income growth as consumers saved less (or borrowed more)

"Earnings growth moving above consumer price inflation would also be a very welcome development for the government given Labour's focus on the cost of living.

Philip Shaw, economist at Investec, expects CPI to come in at 1.5%, which would be the lowest rate since October 2009, and he forecasts it will stay relatively low.

However we are keeping an eye on wholesale food prices – note that wheat prices (in sterling terms) are up 9.5% so far this year, while corn is 17% higher," he said.

The proceeds will go to charities involved in clearing up the environmental damage caused by the bags rather than the government or the retailers.

Tougher action and ambitious targets are needed to cut waste and boost recycling, and bring England in line with the rest of the UK and much of Europe.