Reopening leads to record hiring and vacancies 17 August 2021 Employment continued to rise in July, with payrolled employment levels now up 182,000 on the month, and with hiring at a record level – a welcome sign that the labour market recovery is continuing, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest HMRC data. Record vacancies were met with record hiring, with … Continued READ MORE
Higher-wage areas experienced significantly larger job falls during the pandemic than lower-wage areas 12 August 2021 Higher-wage areas of the UK have experienced significantly larger job falls during the pandemic than lower-wage areas, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Thursday). Levelling up and down Britain – the latest report for The Economy 2030 Inquiry – a collaboration between the Resolution Foundation and the Centre for Economic Performance at the … Continued READ MORE
GDP recovery is encouraging – but it is too early to say that the pandemic is over 12 August 2021 Please see below the Resolution Foundation’s response to this morning’s GDP figures. James Smith, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The welcome news from today’s GDP release is that the recovery continued in June. This is particularly good news after growth slowed in April and May. “With GDP still 2.2 per cent below its … Continued READ MORE
Hike in energy prices will disproportionately affect low-income families 6 August 2021 Today’s announcement of a hike in the energy price cap is bad news for low-income families across the UK, many of whom are still suffering from the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis. With over one-in-five families on Universal Credit already falling behind on essential bills, low-income families face a perfect storm of higher prices … Continued READ MORE
Almost two million workers remain on furlough as the scheme is phased out, with older workers more likely to be stuck 29 July 2021 The number of furloughed employees fell below two million for the first time at the end of June, ahead of the scheme being wound down over the summer, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday) in response to the latest HMRC Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme data. The number of furloughed employees fell by 590,000 during June … Continued READ MORE
Staycation summer to cut UK’s £30.5bn ‘tourism trade deficit’ – with Wales, Devon, Cornwall and Cumbria set to benefit most 29 July 2021 Press release from the Resolution Foundation The boom in ‘staycation’ holidays this Summer will provide some much-needed respite for the UK’s travel and hospitality sectors, with areas such as West Wales, Devon, Cornwall and the Lake District benefitting most – but cities such as London and Manchester losing out – according to new research published … Continued READ MORE
Jobs recovery continues with much of the North within touching distance of pre-crisis employment levels 15 July 2021 The UK’s jobs recovery has continued into June, with four regions of the UK now surpassing their pre-crisis payrolled employment levels. However, some of these workers will still be on furlough – highlighting how the recovery remains far from complete – the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the latest ONS labour market data. … Continued READ MORE
Unique Covid crisis wealth boom has seen an average £7,800 windfall but widened wealth gaps 12 July 2021 The Covid-19 crisis has been marked by rising levels of wealth – the first time this has happened during a recession in 70 years – and widening wealth gaps as middle- and high-wealth households have amassed savings and benefitted from rising house prices far more than those with little or no wealth to begin with, … Continued READ MORE
The danger of overdoing the optimism on the economy is greater than the risk of it overheating 9 July 2021 Commenting on the latest GDP figures for May published today (Friday) by the ONS, James Smith, Research Director at the Resolution Foundation, said: “The economy continued to bounce back in May following the deep lockdown freeze at the start of the year. “But with the economy still 3.1 per cent weaker than pre-crisis – a … Continued READ MORE
Cutting Universal Credit at a time when families will already be facing rising inflation and higher unemployment is bad economics, and bad politics 7 July 2021 The Resolution Foundation response to the Government’s announcement today that they are going ahead with the £20 a week cut to Universal Credit from this October Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “The decision to cut Universal Credit by £20 a week this October will cut the incomes of the poorest families … Continued READ MORE
Over one-in-four young people worried that poor mental health will affect their ability to find a job 5 July 2021 The mental health impact of the pandemic could have lasting repercussions for young people as they take their first steps on the career ladder, with over one-in-four 18-24-year olds afraid that poor mental health will affect their ability to find a job in future, according to new research published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. … Continued READ MORE
2.4 million employees still furloughed after May reopening – with older workers being ‘parked’ on furlough 1 July 2021 The number of employees on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (JRS) fell rapidly during May as the economy reopened, but far more people remain furloughed than previous official data has suggested, while older workers are disproportionately likely to remain ‘parked’ on furlough for long periods, the Resolution Foundation said today (Thursday) in response to the … Continued READ MORE
Older workers most likely to be left parked on furlough during reopening 1 July 2021 Over one-in-four workers aged 55-64 who were fully furloughed during the recent lockdown remained so in May despite the reopening of the economy, and now face a higher risk of unemployment as the furlough scheme is phased out from today (Thursday), according to new Resolution Foundation research. The Foundation’s annual Living Standards Audit 2021 examines … Continued READ MORE
Labour market is lukewarm not hot, with pay rises overstated and hours worked still at recession levels 28 June 2021 Employees are coming off furlough at a rapid pace but the UK labour market is lukewarm rather than hot, as total hours worked remain well below pre-crisis levels and most vacancies are still relatively easy to fill despite the focus on shortages in some sectors, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Monday). The … Continued READ MORE
Millennials face the highest lifetime costs of their first-time properties, despite historically low interest rates 26 June 2021 The costs of buying a typical first-time property with a mortgage have risen by two-thirds over the past half-century, with those born in the late 1980s experiencing the highest costs of all, as falling interest payments have failed to offset rapidly rising house prices, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Saturday). The report … Continued READ MORE
Higher than expected inflation spike poses more of a challenge to household incomes than to the Bank of England 20 June 2021 Inflation is on course to rise above four per cent in the coming months – reducing real average household incomes by £700. And while monetary policy makers at the Bank of England should ‘look through’ this temporary inflation spike, fiscal policy makers should act to protect family incomes and strengthen the recovery, according to new … Continued READ MORE
Around one-in-seven arts, leisure and hospitality employees remained on furlough after grand reopening in May – despite widespread reports of staff shortages 17 June 2021 Overall furlough rates dropped to their lowest level since the start of the pandemic in late May, but a significant proportion of employees remain out of work even as firms report staff shortages, and the Government prepares to start phasing out the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) in just two weeks’ time, the Resolution Foundation said … Continued READ MORE
UK experiences fastest six month rise in inflation in a decade – but policy makers should look beyond the latest figures 16 June 2021 Commenting on the latest inflation statistics published today (Wednesday) by the ONS, which show that CPI inflation increased to 2.1 per cent in May, up from just 0.3 per cent in November – the fastest six month rise in inflation since the collapse of sterling in the aftermath of the financial crisis , Jack Leslie, … Continued READ MORE
200,000 employees return to work in grand reopening hiring surge – but UK still has a ‘Covid employment gap’ of almost three million workers 15 June 2021 Payrolled employment increased by almost 200,000 in May as the country experienced a grand hiring surge. However, the UK still has a ‘Covid employment gap’ of 2.8 million workers to close before the recovery is complete, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest ONS labour market statistics today (Tuesday). The latest data shows … Continued READ MORE
‘Shecession’ predictions wide of the mark as women’s working hours fall a third less than men’s 14 June 2021 Women’s average working hours have taken a far smaller hit during the pandemic than men’s, with women who do not have children now working longer hours than ever before – in marked contrast to predictions of a ‘shecession’ at the start of the pandemic, according to new research published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. … Continued READ MORE
New ‘workers’ watchdog’ should do a much better job of stamping out labour market abuses 8 June 2021 Responding to the Government’s announcement of a new ‘workers’ watchdog’ today (Tuesday), Lindsay Judge, Research Director of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Labour market rules are only effective if they are enforced properly, and the current fragmented system often leaves workers most in need to support to fall through the cracks. “A new Single Enforcement Body … Continued READ MORE
Covid crisis and recovery have created a jobs rollercoaster for low-paid workers 7 June 2021 Low-paid workers have been worst affected by the pandemic, are now returning to work fastest in the recovery, but still face the dual risks of rising unemployment and high job insecurity later this year and beyond, according to new Resolution Foundation research published today (Tuesday). The Foundation’s 11th annual Low Pay Britain report examines the … Continued READ MORE
Furlough levels have fallen by a third since January as take-up of the scheme reaches two billion working days 3 June 2021 The number of furloughed workers fell by 880,000 in April – and by 1.6 million since January – as the economy began to reopen, while take-up of the Job Retention Scheme reached two billion working days, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest HMRC and ONS furlough statistics published today (Thursday). The latest … Continued READ MORE
Union membership increases for fourth year in row – but fewer than one-in-10 low-paid workers are members 27 May 2021 After four-decades of decline, 2020 was the fourth year in a row in which trade union membership among employees in the UK increased – with membership up 120,000 on the year before – according to Resolution Foundation analysis of new statistics published today (Thursday) by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. The Foundation … Continued READ MORE
Jobs market enters new phase as firms go on hiring spree but UK still has 4.2 million ‘Covid employment gap’ to fill 18 May 2021 The second highest monthly increase in payrolled employment on record, coupled with vacancies returning close to pre-crisis levels, show that the labour market is entering a new phase as it reopens and recovers – but a return to its pre-pandemic health is still a long way off, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to … Continued READ MORE