The Chancellor should use Universal Credit, not the tax system, to help young people in the Budget 10 November 2017 Unfreezing working age benefits next year and rebooting Universal Credit would provide a much needed living standards boost to young families as the majority of gains would go to millennials, according to a new report published today (Friday) by the Resolution Foundation. With the Chancellor under pressure to deliver an Autumn Budget that addresses the … Continued READ MORE
Young and middle income mortgage holders will feel biggest short-term pressure on mortgage costs 2 November 2017 Barely one in ten families are at risk of an overnight effect of today’s rate rise through higher mortgage costs, with young and middle income mortgage owners facing the biggest cost increases, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the Bank’s decision to raise interest rates by 0.25ppts. The Foundation’s analysis finds that the … Continued READ MORE
The current design of Universal Credit is not “fit for purpose” in 21st century Britain 31 October 2017 The current design of Universal Credit is not “fit for purpose” in 21st century Britain Change needed to end six week waits, recognise not everyone is paid monthly, and avoid big losses looming for lone parents Universal Credit needs urgent change if it is to be fit for purpose and become the bold welfare reform … Continued READ MORE
Average pay falls back to February 2006 levels as jobs market holds steady 18 October 2017 The latest fall in real pay means that average earnings are no higher than they were back in February 2006, the Resolution Foundation said (Wednesday) in response to today’s labour market figures. Real earnings fell by -0.4 per cent in the three months to August. However, with the rate of inflation having increased since … Continued READ MORE
Double living standards blow confirmed as rising inflation hits benefits and pay 17 October 2017 Rising inflation is dealing a double living standards blow to low and middle income working families from squeezed pay packets and reduced state support, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the latest inflation figures. The figures – which saw CPI increase to 3% and CPIH to 2.8% in September – confirm the … Continued READ MORE
‘No deal’ Brexit tariffs could mean millions of households facing price rises of over £500 a year 17 October 2017 Exiting the EU without a trade deal and reverting to WTO ‘most-favoured nation’ (MFN) tariffs with the EU would lead to significant price rises across a range of goods, with low-income households facing the biggest cost pressures. This is according to a new joint-report published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation and the UK … Continued READ MORE
Concerning fall in apprenticeship starts after years of steady progress 12 October 2017 Concerning fall in apprenticeship starts after years of steady progress The concerning fall in apprenticeship starts suggests that the government will need to make the new Apprenticeship Levy more user-friendly for businesses to get the welcome progress of recent years back on track, the Resolution Foundation said in response to the latest figures published … Continued READ MORE
Biggest fall in low pay for 40 years, following introduction of the National Living Wage 12 October 2017 The number of low-paid employees dropped by over 300,000 last year as Britain experienced its biggest year on year fall in low pay since 1977, according to a new report by the Resolution Foundation published today (Thursday). Low Pay Britain 2017, the seventh instalment of the Foundation’s flagship annual low pay report, shows that the UK remains too reliant on low paid work, defined as employees earning less than two-thirds … Continued READ MORE
530,000 ‘hidden unemployed’ workers mean pressure for stronger pay could still be some way off 8 October 2017 Over half a million of Britain’s economically inactive population have a high probability of finding work, suggesting there is far more slack in the labour market than the headline unemployment figures suggest. This is according to the Resolution Foundation’s latest quarterly Earnings Outlook – supported by the Nuffield Foundation – published today (Monday). With … Continued READ MORE
Rapid increase in BAME graduates still leave big gaps when it comes to their jobs and pay packets 7 October 2017 The proportion of BAME workers with degrees has increased rapidly over the last two decades, but they still face a jobs gap and pay penalty compared to white graduates in the workforce, according to a new analysis published today (Saturday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation says that the disparities facing BAME groups shows … Continued READ MORE
Young people hit by spending squeeze as falling incomes and rising housing costs take their toll 30 September 2017 Young people have experienced the tightest squeeze on household spending since 2000 and now consume 15 per cent less than older working age people on items other than housing, according to a new report published today (Saturday) by the Resolution Foundation. The finding of a consumption ‘youth deficit’ is in stark contrast to common claims … Continued READ MORE
Britain’s housing catastrophe has driven a 50-year drain on living standards 20 September 2017 The average share of income that Britain’s families spend on housing has trebled over the last 50 years, with young people having to make do with longer commutes and smaller, insecure rented accommodation, according to a new report published today (Wednesday) by the Resolution Foundation. As Labour and the Conservatives head to their party conferences … Continued READ MORE
Welcome news on jobs isn’t filtering through into pay packets 13 September 2017 The UK jobs market continues to perform strongly but it is failing to filter through into wages as the pay squeeze continues, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the latest labour market figures. Employment hit a new record high in the three months to July, while unemployment and economic inactivity reached fresh … Continued READ MORE
Rising prices are bearing down most heavily on lower income families 12 September 2017 The rising cost of food and clothing means that inflation is increasing fastest for the poorest households, the Resolution Foundation said today in response to the latest inflation figures. The Foundation notes that the rising cost of food and clothing – which was falling this time last year – is now the biggest driver … Continued READ MORE
Millennials would rather have grown up in an earlier time 9 September 2017 Britons across all age groups no longer believe that young people today will have a better life than their parents, with pessimism strongest among graduates and high earners, according to new analysis by Ipsos MORI for the Resolution Foundation published today (Saturday). The report, based on a survey of over 2,000 adults commissioned for the … Continued READ MORE
21st Century Britain has seen a 30 per cent increase in second home ownership 19 August 2017 Over 5 million people now have second homes There has been a 30 per cent increase between 2000-02 and 2012-14 in the proportion of adults who own multiple properties, rising 1.6 million to 5.2 million people (one in ten adults) in that period, new analysis published today (Saturday) by the Resolution Foundation has found. Combined … Continued READ MORE
Employment boom is improving job quality but not pay 16 August 2017 A tightening UK labour market, with employment at a new record high of 75.1 per cent and a significant slow down in the growth of EU workers, is raising job quality but not pay packets, the Resolution Foundation said in response to today’s Labour Market data release. With unemployment at 4.4 per cent, the lowest … Continued READ MORE
The proportion of people moving for work within the UK has fallen by a quarter since the millennium 15 August 2017 Workers who move typically get a £2,000 pay rise Contrary to the popular idea that ever more people move around the UK for work, moving region to change jobs is actually down 25 per cent since the turn of the millennium, with the typical worker that doesn’t move missing out on a £2,000 pay rise … Continued READ MORE
Bangladeshi and Pakistani households have seen fastest income growth this century 7 August 2017 Huge gaps in household income between different ethnicities persist Large living standards gaps between different ethnicities persist in Britain, with typical Bangladeshi household incomes being £8,900 (35 per cent) lower than the White British median; Pakistani households £8,700 less (34 per cent) and typical Black African households £5,600 less (22 per cent), according to new … Continued READ MORE
Welcome inflation fall but poorest households are experiencing the biggest price pressures 18 July 2017 Welcome inflation fall but poorest households are experiencing the biggest price pressures The poorest households have experienced higher inflation than the richest households since the start of the year, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday) in response to the latest inflation figures, which saw CPIH fall to 2.6 per cent in June. New Resolution … Continued READ MORE
Income growth halved in the run up to the 2017 General Election 15 July 2017 Britain beset by big divides on housing, age and inequality The mini living standards boom between 2013 and 2015 came to an abrupt halt in the year running up to the recent General Election, with income growth halving to just 0.7 per cent, according to a major new report published today (Saturday) by the … Continued READ MORE
Women lead Britain to fresh employment high while the pay squeeze continues 12 July 2017 Women working in full-time employee jobs have accounted for 58 per cent of all jobs growth in the last year, despite the recent focus on men in the gig economy, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest labour market figures. Real earnings fell by -0.5 per cent in the three … Continued READ MORE
It’s good to focus on overtime, not just Uber 11 July 2017 by Torsten Bell When a government publishes a Big Review – and at 115 pages the Taylor Review certainly fits that bill – the temptation is to rush into the weeds of its very many recommendations. But before we do that it’s worth stepping back and considering how remarkable it is that we’re even here in the … Continued READ MORE
New minimum overtime wage could affect millions of supermarket staff and care workers 11 July 2017 The Taylor Review could mean far more for low-paid workers in retail, hospitality and social care than those operating in the gig economy, the Resolution Foundation said today (Tuesday). The Foundation says that for all the focus on the gig economy, it is the recommendation of a new minimum overtime wage that could have … Continued READ MORE
The growth of advanced industries has created 150,000 extra local jobs – and low qualified workers gain most 10 July 2017 The local employment benefits of growing advanced industries spread well beyond workers in those sectors, a new report from the Resolution Foundation published today (Monday) has found. However, this good news for jobs does not spill over into good news for pay, so low-paying sectors should also be a key focus for the government’s industrial … Continued READ MORE