HR news briefing News and analysis
what February means for you
UK employment rate has risen to record high of 76.3%
What you should know:
The latest figures from the
Office for National Statistics
(ONS) have shown that the
UK has hit a record high
employment rate. The number
of people in work has been
recorded at 76.3%, while the
unemployment rate (3.8%)
has remained at its lowest level
since 1974.
There were an estimated
805,000 vacancies between
October and December 2019;
11,000 fewer than the previous
quarter and 49,000 fewer than
a year earlier.
The ONS ‘Labour market
overview’ estimated that
annual growth in average
weekly earnings for employees
remained unchanged at
3.2% for total pay, and
slowed to 3.4% from 3.5%
for regular pay.
Minister for employment
Mims Davies said that the
figures communicate that not
only are there more people in
work than ever, but there is a
rise in those working in
higher-skilled roles.
“This means at the dawn of
the decade the opportunities
to progress in work are out
there, with people already
benefiting from another
month of rising wages,”
she said.
What you should do:
Norman Pickavance, CEO at
Tomorrow’s Company, said
that there are two sides to the
record employment statistics.
“It is hugely positive that
employment is at an all-time
high, but these figures only tell
half a story. Record
numbers are also living
in poverty.
“Research by the
Alliance for Financial
Inclusion reveals that
there are now more people
in work living in poverty
(60%) than there are out
of work,” Pickavance
added. “There are more
children living in poverty
whose parents work than
those who don’t.”
However, Pickavance added
that HR should be happy to
have so many people in work.
“We now need to see HRDs
not only thinking more about
the quantity of people in
employment, but also the
quality of work on offer.”
Pickavance suggested that to
turn around poor productivity
and compete on a global
marketplace we need to see
better-designed jobs that
provide training and more
opportunities to grow.
Our pick of HR online
EU nationals and British expats need more support
Just 36.45% of employers have provided EU workers based in
the UK support regarding their settled status applications,
and employers are being encouraged to do more.
bit.ly/HReunationals
Government releases veterans action plan
with employment incentives
After a public consultation, the government has
pledged a series of commitments to help veterans
enter the workplace. Reduced National Insurance
contributions for employers and guaranteed interviews
in the public sector are
some of the ways the
government is proposing
to help incentivise the
employment of exarmed
forces personnel.
armed bit.ly/HRveterans
The
month in
numbers
Off-payroll
review launched
A review of
off-payroll working
rules (IR35) has
commenced to
address concerns
from businesses
and affected
individuals about
how the legislation
will be implemented on
6 April 2020.
bit.ly/HRoffpayroll
55% of working mums
who went back to
their old jobs felt their
employers gave them
fl exibility for a workmother
balance
(Onecom)
71% of fl exible offi ce
workers don’t leave
the offi ce
for lunch
(Workthere)
50%
of leaders
feel they are
well equipped
to lead their
organisation
in the future
(Gartner)
22% of
senior tech
workers suffer
stress-related
headaches
at least once
a week
(Beeja)
15% of executives rate
their HR team as
effective in
developing
leaders of
the future
(Gartner)
hrmagazine.co.uk February 2020 HR 9
/hrmagazine.co.uk