Get Britain Working is totally missing the current employment crisis economy

[myotheraccountsa]

Just read the BBC article about rate of UK unemployment up to 5% - the gvmt saying people should question the accuracy of this data, but also that it ties into their campaign to "Get Britain working".

I am mind blown. Are they not seeing what I'm seeing? This isn't an issue with people on benefits etc -

There's a huge new tidal wave of very highly qualified people who have been merrily working for all their lives, now made redundant or upon leaving theor jobs literally cannot find anything. There's a Mid-Senior level crisis all over LinkedIn - 500+ people applying for every 1 job. People searching for over a year with hundreds of applications, interviews, and getting nothing. Basically being told that nowadays the only way to get a job is through networking - it's back to who you know, not what you know.

And then the government act all surprised and like they haven't taxed businesses on workers to the point that they're cutting heads wherever they can? Or that they are oblivious to this and everyone should "get back to work" like it's easy for an ex-SVP to persuade the local chippy they're the ideal employee (even if they're desperate and would willingly work there).

Madness.

Unfortunately AI initial screening doesn’t help. If your organisation arranges recruitment that way @MrsBennetsPoorNervesAreBack, that could be the issue.

Yes, it’s horrendous out there. My DD was recently made redundant- she has a first class degree from an RG university, plus distinction at MA - and can’t get another job. She has worked solidly for the last four years and was in the charity sector in London , so not megabucks. She was looking for jobs paying low 30s. Nothing. she’s now looking for jobs paying 20s. She’s done all sorts in the past, bar work, teaching assistant.

Thanks, but we don't.

DD is 3 years older than DS. When she was at college, there was endless part time jobs. If she didn't like one, she moved on easily in the same week. DS is now at sixth form and has applied for countless similar jobs and doesn't even get a reply.

You could say what the salaries are?

You've spoken about them being benchmarking against other companies in the same industry... usually that means they're low.

And you could specify the sector (It, care, logistics, call-centre, etc) and level (worker, manager, designer, etc) without it identifying the company.

Without that I fear that people will imagine you're disingenuous..

The thing is, it is easy for them to convince the local chippie that they can work there - which has the knock on effect of meaning that someone ho is not qualified to work a profession also can't get a job at the chip shop.

Whilst I don't want to see anyone skint, NMW has doubled over the last 10 years whilst many professional wages have stagnated. It's seriously getting to the point that I wonder why I work a stressful job when I could work at the supermarket for £5 an hour less. So in 10 years, why would I expect wages to be parallel if they carry on at this rate. Which also means the cost of your chips goes up to fund wages and then noone buys them.

I'm not against a living wage, far from it. But a living wage pushes up the cost of living.

ETA: it will also see professionals jacking it in for similar paid work and no stress, which further pushes people out of the labour market.

Disabled people is a massive category. I’m not sure if your referring to a wheelchair user or someone who has , let’s say ODD .

I think you are right. There needs to be a rethink at all levels of government. All spending should be categorised as essential or inessential. Wilful mis-categorisation (eg drag Queen story time, a rainbow paint job on a police van etc) should result in liability for the person who signed off on the cheque.

There may be lots of vacancies advertised but the salaries associated are dire or the jobs are sales and commissions based.
A lot of people who may have moved jobs are put off at the loss of financial security.

Some people are clinging onto their jobs rather than moving up the ladder.

There are no jobs. Companies in DHs field are closing, there are redundancies at his place.
DDs friends are all looking for pt work, one has applied for 80 positions and got nowhere.

Use childcare and/or go part time yourself. Why are you restricting her to school hours?

I am a teacher who also runs a tutoring business to keep us ticking over.

Not intentionally trying to obstruct. There's just practicalities to consider.

It’s hard to know why without knowing the sector and type of jobs being advertised.

I'm not exactly disagreeing but if people are struggling to live on NMW as it is, what do you think should happen?

If people think I'm being disingenuous, whatever. I'm stating my experience but I don't really care if people choose not to believe it.

The roles and salaries have been varied. The salaries are not sky high but definitely not low either - not London levels but certainly in line with what other employers are paying for comparable roles in our city/region.

I'm not going to say the sector, but none of the ones you've listed.

We 've looked at where we advertise, and we've increased the number of applications by doing that, but the quality of applications still isn't there.

Just putting it out there that things are going to get a lot worse when the local government reorganisation kicks in. Heads are in the sand about job losses, but there will be many. Streamlining local services is going to result in redundancies, otherwise why do it.

I agree with you MrsBennets - we are a construction company in Herefordshire and we really struggle with recruitment. We get a lot of applicants who are several hours away because the poor road links make the journeys long. WFH is not really suitable to what we do. We hear a lot of people in business say the same - bank manager, accountancy firms, suppliers and customers of ours. It's very difficult to get qualified people. We are training and offering college courses too but still so hard.

I'm not really asking people to tell me why, I'm just stating my experience, which definitely isn't unique in our city - I've spoken to other employers with similar issues.

We've already been through all of the thought processes that random strangers on the Internet are likely to come up with, so I am not really looking for ideas. I'm just pointing out that there doesn't seem to be a huge glut of brilliant people looking for jobs anywhere near me!

Completely agree on the "just above min wage" jobs not being worth it. I have left a PT job in financial services after 5 years of stress, shouty manager, compliance reviews, passing exams etc for a PT min wage job working in reception for a charity. £50 less per month, stress level near zero, and it's 10-2 so works for school runs.

But - I got this role because I have been working with clients/customers since 2008 and have a very good degree. My full time applications for mid-level financial services jobs with similar candidates got me nowhere.

Hugger taxes in Scotland are certainly a disincentive - I work part time for a UK organisation on a good salary. I also run a small business. The problem for me is I take home less than my UK peers, because my tax is higher, and any work I accept in my business means I automatically lose 50% of my fee to tax and NI, because I’m in that spot where I’m paying 40% on my salary and am still liable for NI. It means I either raise my fees, which makes my service less accessible to people who need it, or I accept that by the time I factor in business costs, I’m working for practically nothing.

I should be able to provide a service and take home more than minimum wage given the level of training needed to do my work and the level of risk I carry. As it is, it’s easier for me to let the business go, which means the government don’t get a tax return on that potential income.

Yes but you're making it impossible for her to build a career if she is restricted to school hours and that will have long-term implications on her future, pension etc.

Pay for some childcare like everyone else does.

Any disabled person, really. All disabled people have things that disable them (obviously) and therefore there should be accommodations, adaptations and support for all of them.

When my last firm were recruiting, every good candidate was miles away and wanted fully remote working - it wasn't available (nor advertised!)

Who knows.

We’re seeing the creep of decline in jobs here, good careers stalling, and it’s not good.

Yeah, we've tried to be as flexible as we can on this front, and we do have some roles that are fully remote - this definitely widens the net. But it's just not feasible for every role to be like that.

We have a handful of staff who are only willing to work in the office as well, so there is a whole spectrum for what people prefer!