Fewer jobs in the public sector

Job vacancies are falling in the public sector, an early indication perhaps that public sector cuts are already beginning to bite

Commenting on recent figures from the ONS (Office for National Statistics), providing vacancy figures to July 2010, Jim Hillage, director of research at the Institute for Employment Studies, says: “We are now beginning to see the early signs of the public sector downturn, with vacancy numbers across public sector industries beginning to contract sharply. As these trends gather pace in the coming months, overall unemployment is likely to rise unless the recovery in the private sector will be sufficient to compensate for significant public sector job losses.

“There was some positive news as unemployment fell by 49,000. It was also encouraging that employment has grown, up by 184,000, and in particular that 68,000 of these were full-time jobs. The labour market though clearly remains fragile – a significant proportion of the employment growth came through temporary positions, perhaps pointing to a lack of confidence among employers, and the numbers of part-time workers unable to find full-time work continues to grow.

“It is also worrying that long-term unemployment growth remains unchecked, with around one-third of the unemployed now out of work for more than a year. This is now particularly hitting the over 50s, of whom 43 per cent of the unemployed have now been out of work for more than a year.”

What’s your view on the downturn in public sector jobs and the impact of unemployment on the over 50s?

www.employment-studies.co.uk
www.ons.gov.uk

Home  |   Subscribe   |   Advertise   |   Book Reviews   |   Previous Content