Employment hit a record high in December, with over 30 million people in jobs for the first time.
The number of people working increased by 250,000 over the past three months, up 1.24 million since February/April 2010.
The majority of increases are in full-time, permanent jobs in the private sector. Employment increased in Scotland, Wales and England.
Employment Minister Esther McVey said: “It is really encouraging news that the number of people in jobs has increased by a quarter of a million. Together with a big fall in unemployment, this shows that the government’s long-term economic plan to get people off benefits and into work is proving successful.”
