Jobs figures show “massive” increase in self-employment, says TUC

ONS labour market figures published today (Wednesday) show an increase in employment and a decrease in the rate of wage growth.

Of the 118,000 new full-time jobs in the last three months, 104,000 (88%) are self-employed. Nearly one in six (15.1%) jobs in the UK are now self-employed.

Commenting on the figures, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:

“While it’s good to see more people in work, the huge increase in self-employment raises questions about the nature of these jobs. 

“These newly self-employed workers are not all budding entrepreneurs. Many don’t choose self-employment, being forced onto contracts with fewer rights, less pay and no job security.

“We need more decent jobs. Not working conditions like those exposed at the courier firm Hermes these week, where workers were pushed on to self-employed contracts with fewer rights. 

“That is why the TUC is calling for urgent investment in key projects like HS2 and housebuilding so that we can create the kind of jobs and apprenticeships people can live off.”

NOTES TO EDITORS: 

- The TUC has published a report on the urgent economic actions needed to boost the economy following the vote to leave the EU: http://bit.ly/EUactionplan
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