Author Archives: Duncan Weldon

Today’s labour market statistics: ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’

By Duncan Weldon | Published: May 15, 2013

The ‘recovery’ in the wider economy is not being matched by rising real wages or rising living standards, instead the demand-constrained UK economy might be stumbling into a lower wage, lower productivity growth model with serious implications for living standards in the future.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , | 1 Response

The weakness of the wider economy is catching up with the labour market

By Duncan Weldon | Published: April 17, 2013

Whilst important not to read too much into one set of figures, it may now be the case that the weakness of the wider economy is catching up with the labour market.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , | 1 Response

There is no disguising the fact: these are disastrous figures for the chancellor

By Duncan Weldon | Published: February 27, 2013

Today’s figures from the ONS confirm that GDP fell by 0.3% in the fourth quarter of 2012. Whilst the upward revision is obviously good news, there is no disguising the fact that these are disastrous figures.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Responses

Wages and productivity falling despite positive unemployment figures

By Duncan Weldon | Published: February 20, 2013

While the latest drop in the unemployment figures should be welcomed, real wages have now been falling in every month for the past three years.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , | 4 Responses

Bank of England throws in the towel on growth – where does this leave Osborne?

By Duncan Weldon | Published: November 14, 2012

The Bank of England appears to have thrown in the towel on growth with the publication of the latest Inflation Report, but where does this leave the chancellor?

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , , | 5 Responses

Jobs stats no cause for celebration – things could, and should, be an awful lot better

By Duncan Weldon | Published: October 17, 2012

Today’s labour market stats are no cause for celebration – things could be, and should be, an awful lot better.

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Is a rise in self-employment disguising unemployment?

By Duncan Weldon | Published: August 15, 2012

For the last few months, the headline numbers have been good, but a detailed look at the figures gives plenty of cause for concern.

Posted in Good Society | Tagged , | 16 Responses

Unemployment: Headline figures camouflage underlying picture of weakness

By Duncan Weldon | Published: May 16, 2012

A recovery driven by part-time work and accompanied by falling living standards won’t feel like a recovery to most people, writes Duncan Weldon.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Responses

Headline unemployment fall is good news, but underlying picture remains grim

By Duncan Weldon | Published: April 18, 2012

The ‘recovery’ in the labour market over the most recent quarter has been characterised by part-time work and slowing wage growth; this is not good news.

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , , , | 25 Responses

Employment figures mask the rise in under-employment

By Duncan Weldon | Published: February 15, 2012

Duncan Wheldon argues that even the mediocre employment figures released today STILL overstate the positive news

Posted in Sustainable Economy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 36 Responses