16/10/2014

Union Warns Of A Part-Time, Low Wage Economic Recovery

Responding to the latest labour market figures, Unite the union warned of a part-time, low wage economic recovery that was passing people by.

Average earnings, including bonuses, increased by just 0.7 per cent in the year to August, up by 0.1 percentage point on the previous month, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Self-employment now makes up almost 15 per cent of total employment in the UK, 279,000 higher than a year ago, while part-time work has reached a record high of 6.8 million.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "The continued fall in unemployment is welcome, but scratch the surface and today’s figures reveal an economic recovery that is passing people by as the wage siege continues and the world of work becomes more insecure.

"This is a part time recovery built on the back of low wages and an explosion of self-employment which is leaving millions in an employment limbo land, without rights, security or guaranteed income. The government needs to look at this phenomenon and honestly assess what it means for the nation."

(CD)

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