LONDON, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The number of Britons claiming

unemployment benefits rose less than expected in November and

the number of people in work hit a record high, data showed.

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CLAIMANT COUNT UNEMPLOYED NOV OCT F'CAST

Monthly change -3,000 6,000 (10,100) 7,000

Rate 4.8 4.8 (4.8)

ILO UNEMPLOYMENT AUG-OCT MAY-JULY AUG-OCT 11 F'CAST

Total (mln) 2.510 2.592 2.637

Rate 7.8 8.1 8.3 7.8

Change on qtr -82,000 n/a n/a

KEY POINTS

- Lowest unemployment level since March-May 2011

- Highest employment level since records began in 1971

ECONOMISTS' VIEWS

ROB WOOD, BERENBERG BANK

'Close to expectations, but I think the bottom line is that

employment growth is slowing. It Has slowed a bit over the past

few months and weak UK growth may be beginning to catch up with

the labour market.'

'I think they confirm the picture of stagnation heading into

Q4. With an economic contraction on the cards for the fourth

quarter, and it looking weak in Q1, we'll probably see some more

slowing in the labour market.'

'Earnings growth, which slowed and was below consensus

expectations (was) again a bit of downside news'

'The BoE were expecting a weak fourth quarter anyway so

maybe not too much news for them, but as things to continue to

weaken further, then it makes a move more likely.'

(Reporting by UK economics team)

Keywords: BRITAIN ECONOMY/

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