article: David Cameron today boasted that 2million people have found work since 2010, as new employment figures showed the UK workforce is at another record high. Unemployment has continued to fall and a record 31 million people are in work, the last jobless figures before the general election have shown. The Prime Minister used the data to warn that the recovery would be 'put at risk' by a 'stitch-up' between Labour and the SNP, after Ed Miliband and Nicola Sturgeon clashed in a TV debate last night. The Office for National Statistics said more than 31 million people were in work after an increase of more than half a million in the past year . David Cameron today warned the recovery would be put at risk by a Labour-SNP 'stitch-up' after the election on May 7 . The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that more than 31 million people were in work after an increase of more than half a million in the past year, the biggest total since records began in 1971. The figure is up from 29million in spring 2010, before the Tories and Lib Dems went into coalition. At the same time the jobless total fell by 76,000 to 1.84 million in the quarter to February, the lowest for almost seven years. Mr Cameron said: 'There are now 2 million more people in work than in 2010 – that's more families with the stability and security of a regular pay packet. 'This is thanks to the hard work and the determination of the British people, and the Conservatives' strong leadership and clear economic plan. 'It would all be put at risk with the chaos of a Miliband-SNP stitch-up, hiking borrowing, hurting the economy, and costing jobs – and it'll be hardworking taxpayers who'll pay.' He used a speech today to warn that a Labour government would put 1million jobs at risk. Claiming Mr Miliband represents a threat to jobs, the Tory leader said: 'You know what makes me really angry? It's when our opponents still go on about 'you Tories – the party for the few and not the many…' Excuse me? 'This is the party that's taken three million of the lowest-paid workers out of income tax altogether; that's cut the taxes of 26million working people; that's seen 1,000 jobs created every day – jobs that are giving families security, putting food on tables, helping people out of poverty. 'Under the last five years of Labour, unemployment went up by 600 people a day. 'So if Ed Miliband repeated the economic mistakes of the last Labour government – that he was a part of – he risks a million more people joining the dole queues.' The UK's unemployment rate is now 5.6 per cent, a fall of 1.3 per cent since a year ago. The rate was 7.9 per cent in May 2010, when the last general election was held . In a live TV debate last night between opposition leaders, Ms Sturgeon warned Mr Miliband is not 'strong enough' to win the election alone and urged him to ditch austerity to kick the Tories out. The Labour leader rejected the offer of a post-election deal, telling Ms Sturgeon: ''It's a 'no', I'm afraid. 'You want to gamble on getting rid of a Tory government; I can guarantee that we get rid of a Tory government if you vote Labour.' But polls suggest the SNP is set to make huge gains in Scotland, depriving Labour of hopes of securing an overall majority. The number of people claiming jobseeker's allowance fell by 20,700 in March to 772,400, the 29th consecutive monthly cut. The UK's unemployment rate is now 5.6 per cent, a fall of 1.3 per cent since a year ago. The rate was 7.9 per cent in May 2010, when the last general election was held. Around 1.3 million people were in part-time jobs when they wanted full-time work, up by 29,000 in the latest quarter, while self-employment was little changed at 4.5 million. In a live TV debate last night between opposition leaders, SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon warned Labour's Ed Miliband is not 'strong enough' to win the election alone and urged him to ditch austerity to kick the Tories out . The number of people classed as economically inactive, including those looking after a relative, on long-term sick leave or who have given up looking for work, fell by 104,000 to just under nine million. Average earnings increased by 1.7 per cent in the year to February, 0.2 per cent down on the previous month. Long-term unemployment has also fallen, down by 188,000 to 623,000 for those out of work for at least a year. Youth unemployment - 16 to 24-year-olds - fell by 22,000 in the three months to February to 742,000. The ONS also reported that 107,000 people were made redundant over the latest three months, little changed on the end of last year, but more than 200,000 fewer than the record peak of 311,000 in early 2009. There were 743,000 job vacancies across the country in January to March, 124,000 more than a year ago and the highest since records began in 2001. Liberal Democrat Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said: 'Britain is the job creation powerhouse of the western economies. With record numbers of people in work and the highest employment rate ever, people can see the difference Lib Dems have made in government. 'The balance, common sense, fairness and financial discipline praised by the IMF today are the things we have brought to government.' Rachel Reeves, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'Today's fall in overall unemployment is welcome, but with working people earning on average GBP1,600 less a year since 2010 and the biggest fall in wages over a parliament since 1874, it's clear the Tory plan is failing. Dr John Philpott, director of The Jobs Economist, said: 'The quarterly increase of 248,000 in the number of people in work in the UK is remarkably strong. With two-thirds of these additional people employed full-time and almost all employees in permanent jobs this surge indicates real momentum in the ongoing jobs recovery. 'Together with zero price inflation, the jobs boom is helping improve real incomes despite the fact that wage pressure remains subdued. However, the rise in employment and real wages continues to mask severe underlying weakness in labour productivity. This will have to improve markedly if the current recovery in living standards is to be sustained into the medium and long-term.'
highlights: Employment surges as the number in work hits a record 31million .
  Jobless total falls by 76,000 to 1.84 million, the lowest for seven years .
  Cameron warns a Labour government would put 1million jobs at risk .
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