U.K. unemployment rate remains unchanged at 5.1% in the October to December quarter

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released its labour market data on Wednesday. The U.K. unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1% in the October to December quarter. It was the lowest reading since three months to October 2005.

Analysts had expected the unemployment rate to decline to 5.0%.

The claimant count slid by 14,800 people in January, beating expectations for a fall by 3,000, after a decrease of 15,200 people in December. December's figure was revised down from a 4,300 decrease.

U.K. unemployment in the September to November period dropped by 60,000 to 1.69 million from the previous quarter.

The employment rate was 74.1% in the October to December quarter. It was the highest reading since 1971.

Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, climbed by 2.0% in the October to December quarter, beating expectations for a 1.8% rise, after a 1.9% gain in the September to November quarter.

Average weekly earnings, including bonuses, rose by 1.9% in the October to December quarter, in line with expectations, after a 2.1% increase in the September to November quarter. The previous quarter's figure was revised up from a 2.0% rise.

The Bank of England monitors closely the wages growth it considers when to start hiking its interest rate.