the uks unemployment rate decreased in the three months to july and pay growth accelerated a sign the countrys job market remained tight the uks unemployment rate was 36 in the three months to july down from 38 in the preceding threemonth period data from the office for national statistics showed tuesday economists polled by the wall street journal expected the jobless rate to increase to 39 employment increased further in august the number of payrolled employees rose by 71000 on month broadly unchanged from the 77000 increase registered in july wage growth accelerated as employers stepped up their efforts to retain staff average weekly earnings excluding bonuses in the three months to july rose 52 on year more than the 47 increase registered in the preceding threemonth period adjusted for inflation earnings without bonuses decreased 28