When the recession struck in 2008, we were forced to become familiar with bad news when it comes to the jobs market. 

Thankfully, things have improved significantly in the past year or so and new government figures suggest employment in the UK is starting to thrive again, which is great news if you're on the lookout for a new job.

Indeed, the coalition claims to have helped an average of 1,000 people into a new position every day since it came to power in 2010. 

As a result, the overall employment rate has reached 73.3 per cent, which is a record high. The private sector has played a big part in this achievement. It now employs 25.5 million people, which is more than ever before. 

Those of you looking for a new job will be delighted to hear that vacancies are also at a record high, standing at 735,000 at any one time.

Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith stated: "As a country we should be proud that there are now record numbers of people in work, record numbers of job vacancies available, and the lowest unemployment rate since 2008.

"For every single day that this government has been in power we have seen an average of 1,000 more people in work."

Even more good news is that fact that wages are on the rise too. According to the coalition, private sector pay increased by 2.1 per cent over the course of the last year.

The UK has been out-performing its international rivals when it comes to jobs growth, with a faster rate of expansion than all of the world's major economies.