The proportion of UK households where no adult aged 16 to 64 is in work is at its lowest since comparable records began in 1996, the Office for National Statistics said.
The figures show that the number of workless households in the UK dropped by 182,000 over the year.
This means that 4.9 million people aged 16 to 64 lived in workless households.
The ONS said this was the first time the figure had dropped below five million since 2008.
Minister for Employment Mark Hoban said, " Helping people off benefits and into work is one of this Government's top priorities, so it is good news that the number of workless households has fallen by more than
425,000 since the coalition took office.
" By reforming the welfare system to ensure that people are better off in work than on benefits, and through schemes such as the Work Programme and Youth Contract we are giving people the support they need to get a job and fulfil their aspirations of looking after themselves and their families."