Unemployment is still falling sharply, employment is at a record high and the number of people claiming unemployment benefits has dropped significantly, according to official figures out today.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says the number of working-age people without a job fell 161,000 in the three months to April to a total of 2.16 million.

The number of people in work jumped by a record 345,000 to 30.5 million – another record – and most of these were in full-time employment, according to the ONS.

Meanwhile, figures for June show 27,400 fewer people were claiming job seekers allowance, down to a total of 1.09 million.

The number of people out of work is now at its lowest point in five years.

Minister for employment Esther McVey said: "As we build a stronger economy, businesses up and down the country are feeling increasingly confident about creating jobs, meaning many thousands more people are in work every day – ensuring a better future for them, their families, and for the country as a whole.

"Helping young people to get a job is vital to securing our economic future, so it’s welcome that youth unemployment has continued to fall – we’ll continue to do all we can to inspire the next generation of employers and business leaders and help them to build their careers."