Inactive Workers Keep Pressure On Labour Market
10 Sep 2024
Published in: Black Country Chamber of Commerce News
The BCC responds to the latest ONS labour market statistics.
Responding to the latest ONS labour market statistics, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said:
“There are some further signs of loosening in the jobs market as vacancies continue to fall and wage growth slows.
“But pay continues to outpace inflation by some margin and high levels of economic inactivity mean recruitment difficulties are likely to persist.
“With over 850,000 more people no longer seeking work than before the pandemic, this remains a big concern.
“Dig deeper into this data and the numbers who are inactive due to long-term sickness have increased by more than 650,000 since early 2020.
“The autumn statement presents a key opportunity to reverse this trend. Action needs to be taken to help employers promote good health and wellbeing and for people not to fall out of work unnecessarily.
“Removing the tax on workplace medical insurance and cash health plans for employers and their people would encourage more take up.”
Gemma Edwards, Policy & Impact Officer at Black Country Chamber commented:
“These figures showing continued pressure on the labour market will not be a surprise to our members in the Black Country.
"We look with interest to see how the reform of the Growth and Skills Levy can help to relieve some of this pressure, and call on the government to consider what tax breaks could be given to employers to enable more health support for their employees.”
More detail on the ONS data can be found here.
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