Truth behind ‘rosy’ job totals

With unemployment down on paper by 146,000 you might think things are on the up. But the truth is far removed from this rosy government picture.

These unemployment figures – down as you would expect in the summer months – mask the true nature of unemployment in the UK – like the growing number of people ‘forced’ into so-called self-employment to get off benefits.

The increase in work is based on record low pay and rising insecure employment which is blighting economic recovery. Pay is running significantly and stubbornly far behind the rate of inflation.

In fact Unite is so concerned about the true situation for people finding work in Britain today that it is calling for the Commons Treasury select committee to investigate just who exactly are ‘the winners and losers’ in the jobs market.

“We would urge the Treasury select committee to hold hearings to investigate who are the winners and losers in this so-called recovery as it is neither as clear cut, nor as rosy as the government likes to portray,” said Unite general secretary Len McCluskey.

He added that there were serious questions to be asked over government claims over this so-called ‘road to recovery.’

“How can this be the reality?” asked Len. “There are 4.5m self-employed, there’s the widespread and insidious use of zero hours’ contracts, and there are hundreds of thousands of young people losing hope of a future with a decent job.”

Unite believes a key area for MPs to investigate should be the long term trends and changes to the UK labour market.

MPs should look at just who is benefitting or not, and whether these changes are desirable for the future economic health of the nation’s workforce.

“Unite would be willing to give evidence to such an investigation by MPs,” added Len.

In this one week alone there are thousands of jobs at risk. “We should not forget that nearly 12,000 jobs are under threat at Phones 4U and Birmingham City Council.”

So with the reality being far removed from government figures it’s time raise wages and stimulate the economy.

“Unite believes that Britain’s workers need a pay rise to generate economic activity, make workers and their families more secure and to lift thousands out of reliance on benefits,” said Len.