Labour market statistics: move along, nothing (much) to see here

Press Releases

21 Feb 2018

Nigel Meager, director of the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), comments on the ONS labour market statistics released on 21 February 2018:

‘The latest employment statistics from ONS cover the three month period up to the end of December 2017, and on the face of it reflect a continuation of the remarkably robust pattern of the last few years.

It is interesting to note that the vast majority of the recent growth in employment consists of those in full-time employment. Self-employment, which has been a key component of jobs growth in recent years, appears to have gone off the boil, the numbers of self-employed are down again, and the growth in part-time and temporary work has also gone into reverse. These changes may be early signs that the sustained tight labour market is starting to generate more stable, higher quality jobs than in previous years. Further evidence of the tightness of the labour market is evident in the fact that unfilled vacancies are also at record levels (up to 823,000 in the latest quarter), but despite this, pay growth remains very muted and below inflation. The big unanswered question is, how long will the lid remain on pay growth, given the pressures building up in the labour market?

More generally, overall employment levels are up and the employment rate remains at a record high level (just over 75 per cent), although the rate of growth is somewhat more muted than we have become used to. There has been a slight increase in unemployment but the rate of unemployment at 4.4% remains very low in historical terms. Importantly, the slight upturn in unemployment has not been at the expense of people in work, but stems from a reduction in the numbers of inactive people, more of whom appear to be joining what is now a very tight labour market.’

 

ENDS

Notes to editor

Interviews and further comment

Nigel Meager, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, is available for comment.

Please contact Polly Bishop, IES head of communications:

Telephone: 0779 1234501

Email: polly.bishop@employment-studies.co.uk

 

About the Institute for Employment Studies (IES)

IES is an independent, apolitical, international centre of research and consultancy in public employment policy and HR management. It works closely with employers in all sectors, government departments, agencies, professional bodies and associations. IES is a focus of knowledge and practical experience in employment and training policy, the operation of labour markets, and HR planning and development. IES is a not-for-profit organisation.

 

About Nigel Meager

Nigel is a labour economist by training, and a well-established international expert on labour market and employment policy issues. He has worked at IES since 1984, following posts at the Universities of Bath and Glasgow. He has been Director of the Institute since 2004. He has a long and varied research track record covering the functioning of national, regional and local labour markets, unemployment, skill shortages, labour market flexibility, changing patterns of work and equal opportunity policies and practices.