The unemployment rate for BME workers is coming down, much more slowly than the rate for white workers as labour market figures show real pay falling since April 2021 and one million people are still on zero-hours contracts.
More than a quarter of a million workers left the furlough scheme in August, an 85% reduction since its peak, according to new statistics published by the HMRC.
The furlough scheme has been a vital shield in the face of unprecedented economic challenges, protecting 11.7 million jobs and supporting communities across the Union.
Insolvency Service statistics show that notifications for redundancies in the same month were 12,687, the lowest level in seven years.
In September they were the second lowest since January 2020, under 14,000, less than a fifth compared to the same period a year before.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: The furlough scheme was a lifeline for communities all over the UK. I am proud of the vital support the scheme provided during the toughest of economic times.
The economy has reopened, and as planned millions of workers have moved off the scheme and back into work, now we move into the next stage of our Plan for Jobs with a £500m support package to help get people into work and into better paid jobs.
The statistics come after the Chancellor this week announced an extra £500 million toward the next phase of the government’s Plan for Jobs which will support hundreds of thousands of people into work and into better paid work.
This package of support will help those on Universal Credit boost their career with advice from their dedicated work coach, support older workers with enhanced support through the Job Finding Support and Job Entry Targeted Support schemes and extend the Kickstart jobs placement scheme for 18–24-year-olds.
Commenting on the latest employment figures published by the ONS on Tuesday), which show real pay falling since April, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“The furlough scheme is a union success story, and it’s good news that so far, the wind down of the scheme has not been accompanied by job losses.
“But if ministers are serious about a high wage economy, they have work to do. The last 12 years have been the worst period for wage growth since Napoleonic times.
“And today’s figures suggest workers will be waiting for some time for the pay surge the prime minister promised at the Conservative party conference. Real pay is less than £2 a week above the pre-2008 financial crisis peak.
“Working people deserve a decent standard of living. That means fair working conditions and a wage they can raise a family on. But too many are struggling to make ends meet – including many of the key workers who kept the country going during the pandemic.
“In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, people deserve better. The government must give unions more power to negotiate better pay and conditions for all workers.”
BME unemployment figures
The figures today show that Black and minority ethnic (BME) unemployment rates are coming down much more slowly than the rates for white workers. Since the same period last year, the rate has fallen by 0.2 percentage points (3 per cent) for BME workers, compared to 0.7 percentage points (16 per cent) for white workers.
Frances O’Grady said: “BME workers have borne the brunt of the pandemic. They’ve been more likely to be in low-paid, insecure work and have been put at greater risk from the virus.
“Black workers have been at much higher risk of unemployment for every year on record. We cannot allow this inequality in our jobs market. Ministers must hold down unemployment, create good new jobs and challenge the discrimination that holds BME workers back.”
Zero-hours contracts
Figures also published today show nearly one million people are on zero-hours contracts,
Frances O’Grady said: “It’s shocking that there are one million people on zero-hours contracts. Many of these are the key workers who worked through Covid-19, but still face the uncertainty of not knowing when their next shift will be – or how much will be in their next pay packet.
“Everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect at work. Government must ban zero-hours contracts now.”
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