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Commenting on labour market statistics, Charles Levy, senior economist at The Work Foundation, Lancaster University said: 

“Today’s figures from the Office for National Statistics show that our economy is continuing to recover strongly. Comparing the three months to April with the previous three months, employment increased by 345,000. This is the largest three month absolute increase since comparable records began in 1971. Encouragingly, the majority of these jobs were full-time, employee jobs, and this growth is feeding through to falling unemployment.” 

“While these figures show that the UK is moving in the right direction, they also underline just how tough a place the labour market remains for many. Wages are increasing less quickly than inflation, implying that living standards are falling for those in work. There are still 1.4 million individuals working part-time because they can’t find full time work. The implication is that the recovery is yet to reach many people.” 


Notes to editors 

1. Charles Levy, senior economist, Ian Brinkley, chief economist and Geraint Johnes, director are all available for interviews, briefings, analysis and written comment.

2. The Work Foundation transforms people’s experience of work and the labour market through high quality applied research that empowers individuals and influences public policies and organisational practices. It is part of Lancaster University. Follow us on www.twitter.com/workfoundation or sign up to our press releases at http://www.theworkfoundation.com/Aboutus/Newsletter