UK jobs: Wages ex-bonus outperform in September

The Office for National Statistics noted on Wednesday, the UK’s official jobless rate remained at eight-year lows of 4.9% in August, while the claimant count edged lower in September.

The number of people claiming jobless benefits climbed to mere 700 in September from 2400 jobseekers seen previously. The claimant count rate ticked higher to 2.3% in September, against 2.2% seen in August.

Wage growth, excluding bonuses beat expectations, coming in at 2.3% versus  a revised 2.2% booked previously, while the gauge including bonuses met expectations at 2.3% 3m y/y versus 2.4% last. Employment change for August stood at 106k vs 76k expected and 174k prior.