Pay rolled workers rise above pre-pandemic levels but vacancies hit new high
We've spoken exclusively to Employment Minister Mims Davies about the figures as she visited Brighton's new Youth Hub today
Last updated 12th Oct 2021
The number of UK workers on company payrolls rose by over 200,000 between August and September, to a record figure of 29.2 million.
That's 122,000 higher than the levels recorded before the coronavirus pandemic hit in February last year.
Although, data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) released today (12 October) also shows another record leap in job vacancies. It's thought they increased by nearly 1.2 million in September.
In an exclusive interview with Greatest Hits Radio, Employment Minister and Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies reacted to the figures.
She said: "It's been a really positive day for employment figures both in the South East where we are in Brighton and of course across the country as we start to get back to beyond pre pandemic levels. In fact, ten of our twelve regions across the UK are on higher job figures than they were before the pandemic. In fact, in the last month we’ve seen 207,000 people going back on payrolls. Still difficult times for certain sectors. I'm very aware we're not too far away from Gatwick Airport and the aviation and the tourism sector is still struggling, but we're certainly going in the right direction and the plan for jobs is working.
"We've got 1.1 million vacancies out there for people in growing and thriving sectors. We know the ones that are still looking to attract people. That's in the logistics area or in the hospitality area. It's certainly been the fact that the economy is motoring that we’re back enjoying ourselves that we’re really getting back to enjoying and being able to safely be able to enjoy what we did before the pandemic and that includes hospitality and the service industry. It's definitely been difficult for employers to recruit but I want to tell anybody listening, there's loads of roles out there there more varied and interesting than you would think that can create a global career for you"
The MP was in Brighton today to visit local employment agency Maximus to hear how the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Job Entry Targeted Support scheme (JETS) has been helping keep people in work.
She continued: "We're working with providers locally, it’s locally led to make sure that it works for claimants and it's a virtual support for people. Helping with CVs and confidence and networking and everything that you might need to get you into work...It helps with what the work coaches are giving them as well it’s that extra support, it’s delivered digitally it's making a difference we've seen just in this area 600 people going into job jobs because of JETS."
She also made a visit to the city's new Youth Hub, which is one of 110 across the country aiming to get young people into work and it's hoped there'll be 150 by Christmas.
Mims said: "We're working with the local council like here in Brighton, we’re working with football clubs, we’re working with local colleges. It's all locally led to make sure that it works with the young people's needs, the employers needs, and so that we can bring those services together. We've got our DWP work coaches here as well, we've got the National Careers service, so what is right for your community and the young people will be what's there for you."