Under-employment in Wales up more than 20 per cent since 2010
The number of people in Wales who are under-employed has increased by 21 per cent since 2010, according to new analysis published by the Wales TUC today (Wednesday).
The analysis shows that while unemployment has fallen in Wales by 35,000 since the last election, under-employment has risen by 26,255.
At 149,355 the current level of under-employment in Wales is also close to 25,000 higher than it was before the recession (124,720).
The TUC analysis of the Labour Force Survey shows that across the UK the number of people who count as under-employed – people working part-time because they can’t get a full-time job, or wanting more hours in their current job – has increased for both employees and the self-employed.
While there has been a small recent fall in involuntarily part-time work (people working part-time because they can’t get a full-time job), the TUC analysis reveals that a rise in the number who want more hours in their existing job means that under-employment is still increasing.
Under-employment among those who are self-employed in Wales has actually risen more quickly than for those who work as employees. There has been a 33 per cent (5,193) increase in the number of self-employed people in Wales who class themselves as under-employed since 2010, compared to a 20 per cent (21,062) rise for employees.
The TUC says the analysis shows that despite talk of a recovery, continual real wage falls mean that more people than ever are looking for extra hours to make ends meet.
Wales TUC General Secretary Martin Mansfield said: “UK government ministers have made much of the improving jobs figures as a sign that all is now well with the economy. But although unemployment is falling, there are still nearly 150,000 people across Wales who would like to be working more hours than they are.
“With more jobs being created, you’d expect that under-employment would be on the wane too. But sadly with part-time, temporary, low-paid jobs dominating the jobs market in many parts of Wales, under-employment is stubborn and rising.
“As the squeeze on pay continues, many people don’t have enough money for everyday essentials, let alone the cash to cover any unexpected emergencies. With no let up in their financial woes in sight, people are understandably looking to take on more hours just to keep the wolf from the door.
“Without a decent pay rise and the creation of more permanent, secure jobs across the Welsh economy, under-employment is unlikely to fall any time soon.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Under-employment levels (employees and self employed) by UK region / nation 2010-14
|
Total under-employment levels |
Jan- Mar 2010 |
Jan-Mar 2014 |
Change (number) |
Change (per cent) |
|
North East |
127,578 |
148,368 |
20,790 |
16% |
|
North West |
307,517 |
362,161 |
54,644 |
18% |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
267,927 |
302,442 |
34,515 |
13% |
|
East Midlands |
229,266 |
255,476 |
26,210 |
11% |
|
West Midlands |
250,593 |
257,919 |
7,326 |
3% |
|
East of England |
274,722 |
342,774 |
68,052 |
25% |
|
London |
424,101 |
455,134 |
31,033 |
7% |
|
South East |
420,042 |
479,570 |
59,528 |
14% |
|
South West |
262,663 |
287,769 |
25,106 |
10% |
|
Wales |
123,100 |
149,355 |
26,255 |
21% |
|
Scotland |
220,445 |
279,495 |
59,050 |
27% |
|
Northern Ireland |
53,224 |
72,823 |
19,599 |
37% |
|
UK |
2,961,178 |
3,393,286 |
432,108 |
15% |
Under-employment levels (self-employed) by UK region / nation 2010-14
|
Total under-employment levels |
Jan-Mar 2010 |
Jan-Mar 2014 |
Change (number) |
Change (per cent) |
|
North East |
9,080 |
20,625 |
11,545 |
127% |
|
North West |
43,320 |
53,061 |
9,741 |
22% |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
38,933 |
38,754 |
-179 |
0% |
|
East Midlands |
27,776 |
37,556 |
9,780 |
35% |
|
West Midlands |
28,416 |
40,895 |
12,479 |
44% |
|
East of England |
50,675 |
66,940 |
16,265 |
32% |
|
London |
82,431 |
95,959 |
13,528 |
16% |
|
South East |
80,551 |
97,115 |
16,564 |
21% |
|
South West |
41,085 |
50,275 |
9,190 |
22% |
|
Wales |
15,937 |
21,130 |
5,193 |
33% |
|
Scotland |
24,682 |
27,190 |
2,508 |
10% |
|
Northern Ireland |
7,588 |
12,627 |
5,039 |
66% |
|
UK |
450,474 |
562,127 |
111,653 |
25% |
Under-employment levels (employees) by UK region / nation 2010-14
|
Total under-employment levels |
Jan- Mar 2010 |
Jan-Mar 2014 |
Change (number) |
Change (per cent) |
|
North East |
118,498 |
127,743 |
9,245 |
8% |
|
North West |
264,197 |
309,100 |
44,903 |
17% |
|
Yorkshire and the Humber |
228,994 |
263,688 |
34,694 |
15% |
|
East Midlands |
201,490 |
217,920 |
16,430 |
8% |
|
West Midlands |
222,177 |
217,024 |
-5,153 |
-2% |
|
East of England |
224,047 |
275,834 |
51,787 |
23% |
|
London |
341,670 |
359,175 |
17,505 |
5% |
|
South East |
339,491 |
382,455 |
42,964 |
13% |
|
South West |
221,578 |
237,494 |
15,916 |
7% |
|
Wales |
107,163 |
128,225 |
21,062 |
20% |
|
Scotland |
195,763 |
252,305 |
56,542 |
29% |
|
Northern Ireland |
45,636 |
60,196 |
14,560 |
32% |
|
UK |
2,510,704 |
2,831,159 |
320,455 |
13% |
Under-employment levels (employees and self-employed) by UK region / nation 2008-14
|
Total under-employment levels |
Jan–March 2008 |
Jan–March 2014 |
Change (numbers) |
Change (per cent) |
|
North East |
91,188 |
148,368 |
57,180 |
63% |
|
North West |
249,019 |
362,161 |
113,142 |
45% |
|
Yorkshire and Humberside |
197,251 |
302,442 |
105,191 |
53% |
|
East Midlands |
177,229 |
255,476 |
78,247 |
44% |
|
West Midlands |
185,259 |
257,919 |
72,660 |
39% |
|
East of England |
206,904 |
342,774 |
135,870 |
66% |
|
London |
299,708 |
455,134 |
155,426 |
52% |
|
South East |
335,860 |
479,570 |
143,710 |
43% |
|
South West |
218,672 |
287,769 |
69,097 |
32% |
|
Wales |
124,720 |
149,355 |
24,635 |
20% |
|
Scotland |
194,445 |
279,495 |
85,050 |
44% |
|
Northern Ireland |
36,332 |
72,823 |
36,491 |
100% |
|
UK |
2,316,587 |
3,393,286 |
1,076,699 |
46% |
- The TUC analysis is taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The LFS asks respondents both whether they are working part-time and would like full-time work, and whether they would like to undertake more hours in their current job. To control for double counting our under-employment total includes all of those who would like more hours in their current job, along with all those who are working part-time and would like a full-time job but tell LFS researchers that they would not like additional hours in their current post. The data used was for January-March 2014 – the latest data available.