Employment levels have largely remained the same, according to new statistics for the North West.

The employment rate for people aged 16-64 within the North West of England from June to August 2018 was 74.7%, which is a 0.2% increase from March to May 2018.

However, unemployment levels for people aged 16 and over are also up 0.2% from March to May 2018.

Nationally, David Freeman, ONS head of labour market, said: “People’s regular monthly wage packets grew at their strongest rate in almost a decade but, allowing for inflation, the growth was much more subdued.

“The number of people in work remained at a near record high, while the unemployment rate was at its lowest since the mid 1970s.

“However, there was a notable uptick in the number of people who were neither working nor looking for a job, particularly students.”