Employment was also strong, rising by 55,000 in the three-month period, if below the 60,000 expected by analysts. The employment rate remained unchanged at 74.2pc, the highest level on record.

Ruth Miller, of Capital Economics, said that while the employment gains were “below the strong rises seen last year, some easing in the pace of the jobs recovery from its previous strength was always to be expected”.

This would be, in part, because of “how remarkable the labour market recovery has been over the past few years”, Ms Miller said, with less joblessness left to be eroded. The recent gains left the unemployment rate at its lowest point since October 2005.

James Knightley, of ING Bank, said if the data remained strong, it would “help build the case for an interest rate rise early next year”.