“If the government wants a high wage economy there’s still a very long way to go. Wages grew more slowly in August than July. And real wages are only £2.50 a week higher than their peak before the financial crisis – 13 years ago.
“Vacancies in key sectors like logistics and food processing are the result of years of bad employment practices coming home to roost.
“If we want to end this supply chain chaos and deliver higher wages, the government must give unions more power to negotiate better pay and conditions. Working people deserve a decent standard of living.
“With 1.3 million people still on furlough when the scheme ended last month, we can’t be complacent. Ministers still need a plan to protect jobs and living standards, including a permanent short-time working scheme to guard against shocks to our economy – like the energy crisis threatening to shut down factories.”