Economics, government & business

The university lecturers' union has condemned the growing pay gap between college top brass and teaching staff.

UK slips back in European productivity stakes, as US romps ahead

The proportion of IT contractors working in the public sector has doubled to 27% in the past two years

The number of people out of work in the UK rose by 111,000 to 1.53 million in the three months to November

The government will invite employers to get involved in the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games at a summit on 24 January.

HM Revenue and Customs has apologised to 10,000 employers after fining them at least £400 each by mistake because of a basic flaw in the design of automatic IT systems

The government has reportedly scrapped a ground-breaking scheme designed to get more women to return to work in the NHS

Five thousand members of the Amicus union employed in the papermaking industry are to be balloted on an above-inflation pay offer

Public sector employment increased by 72,000 in the 12 months to September 2005 to stand at 5.8 million – but the government has insisted it is on target to meet efficiency targets

The DTI is inviting comments from employers, unions and religious groups in a review of Sunday trading laws.

2012 Olympics forum set up to give business and unions chance to get involved.

Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union working at the NHS Pensions Agency have voted to strike over plans to privatise the agency.

Software giant Oracle plans to increase its headcount in India to 10,000 this year by employing a further 1,400 staff in 15 cities.

UK employers see skills shortages as a greater threat to business performance than falling consumer spending and rising oil prices,.

Members of the broadcasting union Bectu working for ITV have voted to accept an improved pay offer from the company.