The official monthly ONS figures on the state of the labour market covering the period March –May 2013, published this week show another  small reduction in overall unemployment, (but a  rise in youth joblessness, now up to 973 000 -21.3% of  economically active 16-24 year olds). Regardless of what this month’s figures may show, it’s … Continue reading ‘Improving’ monthly unemployment figures: but a growing ‘reserve army’. →

At last!  A  proper assessment of the number of ‘zero hours’ contracts.  After the ONS upgraded its estimate to 250 000 the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development now puts the figure at 1 million. Sufficiently high enough to make newspaper front pages, it raises a further question; particularly with today's Guardian ( 06/07/13) reporting  90% of the … Continue reading Employment without work →

As the UK economy records 0.6% growth for quarter 2 and the service sector reaches its pre-recession peak should Labour critics now be on the defensive?   Or, with workers experiencing the longest fall in real wages for over a hundred years  are Osborne and friends  living in fantasy land? For some alternative analysis see:  (http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2013/07/how-osborne-disguised-truth-about-living-standards) (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jul/25/economy-osbornes-moment-editorial) … Continue reading Is the economy ‘on the mend’? →