UK unemployment total falls (April)

mobfant

dktreesea wrote: »

Thanks for posting this. In spite of the general improvement in the economy, I did notice a couple of things that didn't sound too good. Given the economy is improving, 120,000 redundancies in the quarter makes me think maybe not all sectors of the economy are improving.

The other thing that I found a bit depressing was the 1 million+ over 65's who were still working. That's sad, when people who should be able to enjoy their retirement without working either don't want to give up work or can't afford to.

Given they'll end up living 15-20 years more, maybe some would prefer to work because they enjoy it/want extra income?

Masomnia

dktreesea wrote: »

Thanks for posting this. In spite of the general improvement in the economy, I did notice a couple of things that didn't sound too good. Given the economy is improving, 120,000 redundancies in the quarter makes me think maybe not all sectors of the economy are improving.

The other thing that I found a bit depressing was the 1 million+ over 65's who were still working. That's sad, when people who should be able to enjoy their retirement without working either don't want to give up work or can't afford to.

There are always going to be !!! loads of redundancies, even in good times companies go bust, down-size, sectors struggle, skills become obsolete. You have a problem if new jobs aren't being created to mop those people up; as it is we have had enough new jobs to mop them up plus an extra ~300,000 created.

And yeah as below these people need to work longer because they are going to live longer. The flip side of having ever improving health care whilst people are living longer is that it needs to be paid for.

dktreesea

mobfant wrote: »

Given they'll end up living 15-20 years more, maybe some would prefer to work because they enjoy it/want extra income?

Still sad, on both counts. If they prefer to work at 65 that suggests they don't like a future without work. That's sad if, even at 65+, being footloose and fancy free doesn't appeal.

So is having to work for more income. People should be able to afford to retire. It's a sad thing for society if life has got so expensive people can't retire and enjoy basic comforts like keeping the home nice and warm in a well maintained house/apartment, running a vehicle and eating good quality food.

dktreesea

tomterm8 wrote: »

It doesn't look like a fragile recovery at this point to me... it looks like a well established recovery. This is the point where I support public sector spending cuts...

...and pity the poor people still waiting for passports weeks after putting in their applications. The government couldn't scr*w up public sector cuts anymore if they tried!

mobfant

dktreesea wrote: »

Still sad, on both counts. If they prefer to work at 65 that suggests they don't like a future without work. That's sad if, even at 65+, being footloose and fancy free doesn't appeal.

So is having to work for more income. People should be able to afford to retire. It's a sad thing for society if life has got so expensive people can't retire and enjoy basic comforts like keeping the home nice and warm in a well maintained house/apartment, running a vehicle and eating good quality food.

I don't know that's always true to be honest. My dad was a GP and loved his job so didn't retire finally until he was 70ish, though he did slow down. The same is true of many other people, who like the companionship or structure or challenge etc. But not for everyone.

Also, if you're physically and mentally alert, then why not keep working - maybe people spent more money while they were younger and enjoyed life more as a result, and so are working a little longer to save for when they do retire.

I'm not saying this would apply to everyone, but certainly for many it will.

Thrugelmir

dktreesea wrote: »

...and pity the poor people still waiting for passports weeks after putting in their applications. The government couldn't scr*w up public sector cuts anymore if they tried!

More to do with productivity in the public sector.

BIS is applying a squeeze and the PCS Union doesn't like it.........

Nikkster

The comments in the HYS bit of the BBC News article were interesting (or I thought so anyway).

People suggesting that at least part of the increase in self-employment was due it making it easier to claim WTC etc whilst not having to sign on and jump through the hoops for JSA.

Does this sound plausible?

tomterm8

Nikkster wrote: »

The comments in the HYS bit of the BBC News article were interesting (or I thought so anyway).

People suggesting that at least part of the increase in self-employment was due it making it easier to claim WTC etc whilst not having to sign on and jump through the hoops for JSA.

Does this sound plausible?

No. When you look at the statistics my conclusion is that the rise in self employment is mainly due to older people (pre and post retirement) who either can't or won't afford to stop work and can't get jobs due to discrimination.

dktreesea

mobfant wrote: »

I don't know that's always true to be honest. My dad was a GP and loved his job so didn't retire finally until he was 70ish, though he did slow down. The same is true of many other people, who like the companionship or structure or challenge etc. But not for everyone.

Also, if you're physically and mentally alert, then why not keep working - maybe people spent more money while they were younger and enjoyed life more as a result, and so are working a little longer to save for when they do retire.

I'm not saying this would apply to everyone, but certainly for many it will.

One of my parents was like that, working until well into the 70s, and ignoring the physical effects - they took painkillers. Ten years on they are refusing to go into a home - I would too, so I understand - but are so physically knackered that they struggle to take care of themselves. I wonder if that would have happened if they had retired when they could afford to, at 60.

dktreesea

Nikkster wrote: »

The comments in the HYS bit of the BBC News article were interesting (or I thought so anyway).

People suggesting that at least part of the increase in self-employment was due it making it easier to claim WTC etc whilst not having to sign on and jump through the hoops for JSA.

Does this sound plausible?

I'd say that's definitely plausible. Dealing with DWP really grinds people down. The job centre advisors that I have met in recent years, going in with people who didn't have the confidence to fight back were dreadful. The HMRC are definitely a more pleasant bunch, in my limited experience. I guess they get like that from having to deal with potential tax evaders. The amounts involved possibly mean there is a greater safety issue for them than in the DWP, so maybe they get trained to not be quite so confrontational.