The number of people claiming unemployment benefit fell in October to leave the estimated rate of unemployment at 4.4 per cent, according to official statistics.
The seasonally adjusted Live Register reported a fall of 1,600 claimants in October to give a total of 162,100 in receipt of benefit.
The register is not considered to be an accurate indicator of unemployment as it includes those in part-time employment and on training schemes.
When adjusted for these factors the standardised rate of unemployment in October was 4.4 per cent, compared with a rate of 4.6 per cent recorded in the last quarterly national household survey.