Britain’s jobs rate bounces back to pre-Covid levels but vacancies soar to record 1.1million

BRITAIN’S jobs rate has bounced back to pre-Covid levels — as the country is set to enjoy the fastest growth in the G7 this year.

Workers are also enjoying a pay boom with wages growing by a massive 5.6 per cent in just three months, far higher than inflation.

But vacancies also soared to a record 1.1million, fuelling fears labour shortages will push up prices.

A record-breaking 29.2million workers were on the payroll in September this year — up over 200,000 on the month before, the Office for National Statistics found.

Meanwhile, a separate report by the IMF found Britain’s economy is set to boom by 6.8 per cent this year — the highest in the G7.

The delighted Treasury said this shows bleak warnings of a post-Covid unemployment tsunami are wide of the mark.

But lorry drivers, bar staff and skilled abattoir butchers are all in short supply.

In total, there were more than 300,000 extra vacancies in September than pre-pandemic, the ONS reported.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “As we move to the next stage of our support, it’s encouraging to see our Plan for Jobs working.”