Rising employment is failing to boost pay

Commenting on the latest labour market figures published today (Wednesday) by the Office for National Statistics, TUC C General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“It’s encouraging to see more people in work, though many of Britain’s newly employed workforce are actually working for themselves.

“Ministers shouldn’t kid themselves that we are becoming a nation of budding entrepreneurs. You are far more likely to be a self-employed hairdresser, care home worker or ebay seller, than run your own business and take-on staff.

“It a real concern that rising employment is failing to boost pay, which is barely growing in real terms. This should serve as a reminder to the Bank of England that this is not a full-blown recovery, and that an early rise in interest rates could choke off growth.”

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