The number of people in work in Britain jumped again at the end of last year, underscoring how the labour market defied the broader economic slowdown in the run-up to December’s UK election.

Britain is expected to choose a new central bank chief this year to succeed Canadian Mark Carney, who will step down in June 2019, three months after the country’s scheduled exit from the EU. No one has yet thrown their hat into the ring to succeed him, but there are numerous contenders.

Britain’s economy is likely to feel the impact of the Brexit vote in the coming years after an initial period of resilience, chancellor Philip Hammond said as he spelled out his plans to steer the British economy through its departure from the EU.