Number not working due to sickness hits fresh record

The number of people not working due to sickness has risen to another record high, official figures show.

Around 2.6 million people are not working due to long-term health problems, the Office for National Statistics said.

It came as the UK unemployment rate fell to 3.8% in the three months to April, down from 3.8% last time.

Wages grew at their fastest rate on record outside the pandemic, but still lag behind the cost of living.

Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS, said: "In cash terms, basic pay is now growing at its fastest since current records began, apart from the period when the figures were distorted by the pandemic.

"However, even so, wage rises continue to lag behind inflation."