Labour market Welcome boost on low pay but severe welfare cuts will mean big losses for many low-income working families 8 July 2015 Today’s Budget lived up to its billing as it introduced major moves to boost low pay and fund apprenticeships on the one hand, coupled with severe cuts to welfare that could leave some families far worse off, the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the Budget. On the “National Living … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Real wages growing faster than in pre-crash years 17 June 2015 But average earnings still £30 a week below pre-crisis peak Strengthening pay and ultra-low inflation mean that real wages are now rising more quickly in real-terms than before the financial crisis. But this rebound may prove short-lived as inflation begins to pick up, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday), in response to the latest ONS … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Wages growing at fastest rate since before the crash 15 June 2015 Official figures published later this week are expected to show real wages growing at their fastest rate since October 2007, according to new analysis published today (Monday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The analysis, which models recent labour market data to forecast short-term trends in pay, predicts that average weekly earnings growth will … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Universal Credit red tape cull needed to help parents and the self-employed 8 June 2015 Making Universal Credit (UC) easier to use could boost employment and prevent the risk of penalising families whose earnings and outgoings don’t fit into a neat monthly pattern, according to a new report published today (Monday) by the Resolution Foundation. The think-tank’s nine-month review of Universal Credit considers how the once-in-a-generation welfare reform is equipped … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Working families could become ‘second class savers’ under Universal Credit 8 June 2015 Working families moving onto Universal Credit could become ‘second class savers’, with any money put aside potentially counting against their benefit entitlement, according to a new report to be published on Monday (8 June) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. Making it work – the final report of a nine-month review of Universal Credit … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Reboot of Universal Credit needed to meet welfare challenges of next decade 8 June 2015 Far-reaching reforms of Universal Credit (UC) would help hundreds of thousands more people into work and bring significant cash benefits to working families with children, according to a new report published today (Monday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. Making it work – the final report of a nine-month review of Universal Credit … Continued READ MORE
Labour market UK enjoys an employment lead over the US worth two million jobs 5 June 2015 Dramatic reversal of positions on employment and welfare reliance over last two decades The common perception that the US outperforms the UK in terms of employment and low worklessness is completely wide of the mark, according to a new report published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. An ocean apart, authored by Paul Gregg and … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Share of self-employed workers saving into a pension has fallen by almost two-thirds in last decade 26 May 2015 Two in five of those without staff say they can’t afford to save for their retirement The proportion of self-employed workers saving into a personal pension scheme has fallen by 65 per cent in the last decade, according to a new report published today (Tuesday) by the Resolution Foundation. The report on the retirement incomes … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Real wages growing at fastest rate since November 2007 but average earnings still £30 a week below pre-crisis peak 13 May 2015 Rising nominal pay and zero inflation have pushed real wage growth to its highest level since November 2007, but questions remain as to whether this can be maintained once inflation starts to pick up, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest ONS labour market figures. Real wage growth increased to 2.1 … Continued READ MORE
NEWS FROM RF – David Willetts to become Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation 1 May 2015 Today it was announced that Gavin Kelly, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation since 2010, will leave this post in order to start a wider role as Chief Executive of the Resolution Trust in the autumn. Over recent years RF has become an award winning think-tank that focuses on raising the living standards of low … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Jobs market continues to recover strongly but puzzle emerging as pay growth remains subdued 17 April 2015 The UK jobs market is recovering strongly, but a pay puzzle is emerging as the rapid fall in unemployment is failing to spur stronger wage increases, the Resolution Foundation said today (Friday) in response to the latest labour market figures. The employment rate continued to rise in early 2015 – reaching a record high of … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Typical incomes up £800 a year in north east since eve of downturn but still £900 lower in south east as regions recover at different rates 9 April 2015 Households in the North East and East of England have seen the biggest rise in living standards since the start of the downturn, while Northern Ireland, the West Midlands and the South East have the most ground to make up, according to an analysis of household incomes published today (Thursday) by the independent think-tank the … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Leading economists call for new policies to raise pay 26 March 2015 The next government should introduce bold new policies to support strong wage growth that is shared throughout the workforce, argues a new collection of essays published today (Thursday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The Foundation has brought together forward-looking essays by leading economists from academia, policy and journalism in the UK and US. … Continued READ MORE
Economy and public finances £31bn difference remains between parties’ latest fiscal plans 18 March 2015 Living standards are higher or lower depending on the measure used; a welcome abolition of the ‘poll tax’ on self-employed; and rise in personal allowance poorly targeted The difference between the parties’ fiscal targets has narrowed – but could still be as much as £31bn by the end of the parliament – the independent think-think … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Strong employment recovery continues as vacancies climb to record high 18 March 2015 But falling unemployment is yet to feed into stronger pay growth The strong employment recovery has continued into 2015 and real earnings are picking up. Despite this, nominal wages remain flat and would need to more than double by the end of the year to meet the 3½ per cent level projected by the Bank … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Big regional and generational divide on living standards as typical incomes approach pre-downturn levels 12 March 2015 The great squeeze on living standards over the past seven years has been unevenly felt between generations and across different parts of the country, according to new analysis published today (Thursday) by the Resolution Foundation. The Resolution Foundation analysis finds that typical household incomes are rising and are finally set to return to their pre-downturn … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Universal Credit set to support more people into work – but could result in more subsidised short hours working 9 March 2015 Universal Credit (UC) will increase financial incentives for benefit recipients to enter work but could also make it more attractive for some to work short hours, according to a new report published today by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. Credit where it’s due? – the interim report of the Resolution Foundation’s major inquiry into … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Almost a million care jobs in the UK pay below living wage 3 March 2015 Think-tank sets out a roadmap to a Living Wage for care workers Two thirds of all care jobs in the UK (930,000 in total) paid below the living wage last year, according to a new report published today (Tuesday) by independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The Resolution Foundation report, the culmination of a year-long investigation … Continued READ MORE
Welfare Two in three care jobs in the capital pay below the london living wage 25 February 2015 Nearly 100,000 care jobs in the capital paid below the London Living Wage last year – accounting for almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of the frontline care workforce – according to new analysis published today (Wednesday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The analysis, part of a UK-wide investigation into the pay and conditions … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Growth of zero-hours contracts during recovery shows they are more than just a recession-related phenomenon 25 February 2015 The increased use of zero-hours contracts (ZHCs) last year – even as the labour market recovered – suggests they are more than just a recession-related phenomenon and are likely to remain an ongoing feature of the labour market, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to new figures published by the ONS. The ONS … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Minimum wage rises faster than inflation but still below its peak value 23 February 2015 3 per cent increase to £6.70 means the minimum wage is still below its previous peak This year’s rise in the National Minimum Wage means it still lags its peak value, analysis by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation shows. The above-inflation increase from £6.50 to £6.70 will be a boost to minimum wage earners … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Finance and construction leading the way as wage growth strengthens off back of falling inflation 18 February 2015 Jobs recovery continues as unemployment continues to fall Finance and construction enjoyed the joint fastest earnings growth as falling inflation strengthened the UK’s pay recovery, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest labour market statistics. Today’s figures – the fourth successive month of real wage growth – will be a relief … Continued READ MORE
Labour market· Welfare Failure to pay minimum wage leaves care workers £130m out of pocket 9 February 2015 Social care workers are losing out on £130 million a year due to pay rates that are in breach of the National Minimum Wage, according to new analysis published today (Monday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The analysis – part of a major investigation into improving pay in social care that will conclude … Continued READ MORE
Labour market Wage growth strengthening as unemployment and inflation fall but recovery of lost ground not expected before end of decade 21 January 2015 Falling inflation and a pick-up in nominal pay growth boosted earnings at the end of 2014, the Resolution Foundation said today (Wednesday) in response to the latest labour market figures. But it cautioned that there is still a long way to go before pay returns to its pre-downturn level. Regular pay growth (excluding bonuses) increased … Continued READ MORE
Living standards Household incomes to grow steadily next year but full recovery not expected until early 2016 27 December 2014 Household incomes are set to rise steadily next year but will not return to their pre-downturn level until early 2016, according to a new analysis published today (Saturday) by the independent think-tank the Resolution Foundation. The Resolution Foundation’s measure of household incomes, derived from the ONS national accounts, CPI inflation and OBR forecasts, show that … Continued READ MORE
