Economics, government & business

Unemployment and economic inactivity both increased at the beginning of this year, April 2024 labour market figures show.

Gig economy platform workers complain of suffering from mental ill health, stress and exhaustion.

Around 1,500 steelworkers at Tata plants in Port Talbot and Newport Llanwern have voted in favour of industrial action.

Consultation launched on proposals to reduce barriers for younger people to train and work as bus and lorry drivers.

There has been a steep increase in businesses hiring temporary staff, freelancers and contractors in the past quarter (1 January to 31 March).

The Department for Work and Pensions has published a new disability confident guide to help employers better support disabled people.

One in five highly-skilled contractors is currently not working, with many attributing their absence to reforms to IR35 rules.

Starting salaries rose at their slowest rate for over three years, according to the UK report on jobs for March 2024.

Parcelforce drivers have launched a worker status claim against Royal Mail, as they say they have been misclassified as self-employed. 

Network Rail will recruit an extra 400 engineers to combat climate change effects. It will also convert staff into ‘amateur meteorologists’.

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a plan to create 150,000 jobs in the capital in key growth areas including artificial intelligence.

Employer demand for temps has risen amid concerns about the UK economy.

The UK government faces a 'sliding doors' moment and must act now to avoid an AI 'jobs apocalypse', according to the IPPR.

The Co-operative Bank has announced 400 job losses, affecting around 12% of its workforce. Redundancies are expected by the end of August.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall wants a 'culture change' in the benefits system.