THE latest official labour market data from the Office for National Statistics shows that for the three months to July, employment increased by 74,000 to 30.6 million people.

Commenting on the figures today, CBI director of employment and skills, Neil Carberry said: “The fact that unemployment is lower now than at any time since late 2008 is good news.

“There is more to do, but it's clear that our growing economy is feeding through to new jobs.

"Jobs growth is coming from the private sector, more than making up for public sector job losses, and more young people are finding their feet in our labour market.

"With unemployment dropping, and wage settlements in larger firms starting to pick up, we expect to see average earnings growth begin to rise in time."

The CBI recently published a report on how business, the Government and schools can support young people to find their way into work, delivering the careers advice, options and networks they need.

To read the report called Future possible: the business vision for giving young people the chance they deserve, visit cbi.org.uk/media/2855199/future-possible.pdf The CBI speaks on behalf of 190,000 businesses of all sizes and sectors which together employ nearly seven million people – about one third of the private sector-employed workforce.