By Jason Douglas

LONDON--The jobless rate in the U.K. fell in January to its lowest level in more than four decades, a sign the labor market remains healthy despite concerns over Brexit.

The unemployment rate in the U.K. fell to 3.9% in the three months through January from 4.0% in the three months through December, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday, the lowest rate since 1975.

The number of people in work hit a record high of 32.7 million, almost half a million more than a year earlier, the ONS said. Average wages, excluding bonuses, grew at an annual rate of 3.4%, the same rate recorded in December.

The figures show the labor market continues to perform well despite a slowdown in growth caused by uncertainty over the U.K.'s future ties to the European Union.

Write to Jason Douglas at Jason.Douglas@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 19, 2019 05:40 ET (09:40 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.