A RECORD number of people are in work after another huge fall in unemployment, according to new figures.

The jobless total fell by 115,000 in the quarter to September to 1.96 million, the lowest figure since the start of the year.

The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance was 931,700 in October, 20,400 down on September, and the 24th consecutive monthly cut.

Employment increased by 112,000 in the latest quarter to 30.7 million, the highest since records began in 1971, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported.

However, the GMB union criticised the figures, saying a number of new jobs were poorly paid, with take-home pay still below pre-recession levels.

The ONS' statistics said pay, including bonuses, was one per cent higher than a year ago and excluding bonuses went up by 1.3 per cent, the first time the figure was above CPI inflation for five years.

It added there were just over nine million people classed as economically inactive, including students, long-term sick or those who have given up looking for work, 38,000 more than between April and June.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Record numbers of people in work means more people with the security of a regular wage who are better able to support themselves and their families.

"More young people are getting their foot on the career ladder and we've seen record falls in female unemployment, so as the economy continues to grow, more and more people are having their lives transformed by moving into work."

However, Paul Kenny, GMB general secretary, countered, saying: "Many of the new jobs are precarious and badly paid while the real value of take-home pay for the rest of the workforce is 13 per cent below pre-recession levels.

"Although 898,000 workers have left public sector employment since 2010, the deficit is still £100bn because this increased economic activity is not generating more income from taxes.

"The Tory recipe to get a recovery in pay and income from taxes is even more savage cuts in public spending and public sector jobs."

Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, added: "The fall in overall unemployment is welcome, but after four years when prices have risen faster than wages there is a huge amount of lost ground to catch up."