Getting a job became harder with fewer vacancies - official figures

The jobs market continued to slow, with 9,000 fewer vacancies in the three months to September, official figures show.

It is the 39th consecutive period where vacancy numbers have dropped.

Having fewer job openings can mean it is harder to find work.

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There was also a surprise increase in the unemployment rate, up to 4.8% from 4.7% a month earlier, primarily driven by younger people, as a record number of people over 65 are in work, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.

Economists polled by Reuters anticipated no change in the jobless rate.

The ONS, however, has advised caution when interpreting changes in the monthly unemployment rate and job vacancy numbers due to concerns over the reliability of the figures.

Further signs of a slowing labour market were seen in the fall of annual private sector wage growth to the lowest rate in nearly four years - 4.4%.

Public sector pay growth increased more quickly, at 6%, as some public sector pay rises were awarded earlier than they were last year.

Average weekly earnings rose more than expected by economists at 5% and also more than previously thought after a revision to last month's figures (4.8%).

Also published by the ONS was data on industrial action, which showed August had the fewest working days lost to strike action in a single month for nearly six years.

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