Home -> News List -> Positive Labour Market Figures

Positive Labour Market Figures

Commenting on the labour market figures published yesterday by the ONS, Daniel Fell, Head of Policy at Doncaster Chamber of Commerce said:

“The welcome fall in unemployment raises hopes that next week’s GDP figures will confirm that the recession is over. But, the labour market figures also show that there was a fall in employment, and more significantly, the level of economically inactive people has increased. That said, counted amongst those who are economically inactive are students, whose numbers are increasing to record levels and whose skills once graduated, will be crucial to the UK economy.

The gap between public and private sector wages has widened.  Currently a third of Doncater workers are employed by the public sector.
 
Whilst recognising the obvious value of the public sector, and the need to attract quality staff into public services, it is imperative that Doncaster's economy becomes increasingly balanced towards the private sector and also that private sector salaries achieve parity with the public sector so that industry is able to compete for the best staff on equal terms.

Unemployment in this recession has, thus far, yet to scale the dire levels of previous recessions and that can be, in no small measure, down to the increased effectiveness of Job Centres and Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) across the country at managing to keep as many people in employment as possible until the worst of the recession is over. The fact that RDAs are under treat is itself a massive cause for concern for business, particularly in light of these developments.”