Chamber reaction to employment statistics
Date published:
Commenting on today’s publication of labour market statistics for the region, North East England Chamber of Commerce Policy Adviser Niamh Corcoran said:
“The numbers released today offer hope that economic indicators are beginning to head in the right direction, with North East unemployment declining and employment rising. It is without a doubt that the Government’s Job Retention Scheme has had a key role to play in this, by protecting jobs and livelihoods during the two waves of the pandemic.
“Whilst the figures today offer early signs of a stabilising labour market, it’s important we do not become complacent. As lockdown eases, a number of sectors, such as culture and retail, are yet to bounce back. It will likely be a long process for those sectors to return to pre-pandemic levels of capacity and employment growth.
“Today’s national statistics also expose the disproportionate impact of the crisis on young and older workers. Long term unemployment is rising at its fastest rate since 2010, with unemployment for young people and the over 50s at the highest rate in five years.
“As the labour market begins to stabilise, it is vital that Government takes action and makes concerted efforts to bolster deeply impacted economic sectors and prevent young and older workers from falling into long-term unemployment”.