The moving-average rate dropped for the second time after its first decrease in one year in March-May. The number of employed rose for the third time in a row after drops registered since Q2 last year. The unemployment rate bottomed out at 7.5pc in the summer of 2008. The number of unemployed in the 15-74 age group dropped by 9,900 from March-May to 473,300, but was up by 71,600 from a year earlier. The number of employed rose by 22,500 from March-May to 3,778,900 in April-June in the 15-74 age group. The number was down in one year by 18,200. The employment rate – the percentage of the 15-74 age population who are employed – rose to 49.2pc from 48.9pc in the previous three months. It was 49.4pc in April-June, 2009. The employment rate grew for the fourth time in a row to 55.3pc in this age group from the previous 55.0pc. It was 55.6pc a year ago. The participation rate of 15-64 years old increased to 62.3pc from 63.2pc. It was 61.5pc in April-June last year.