Not much leeway for UK unemployment to fall further

UK unemployment in the prime category (ages 25 to 49), consisting of the bulk of the working age population, dropped by 10k, more than cancelling out the rise in September. It has been in continued decline since January 2013, now edging on its pre-crisis level. Equally, the younger category (ages 16-24) reported an unemployment decline of 28k, its fourth consecutive month of decline. 

On the other hand, the older category (ages 50 and over) reported a rise of 2k, almost cancelling out the decline in September. Full-time jobs increased by 84k (after a rise of 23k in September), accounting for most of the rise in employment (+91k after +89k in August), while part-time jobs rose by only 5k (after a rise of 67k in September). 

In terms of the type of contract, self-employed rose by 56k, its largest increase since January 2014, and employees rose by 53k. Meanwhile, both unpaid family workers and government sponsored declined, by 11k and 9k, respectively. The October participation rate remained unchanged at 63.4%.