Employment

Support targeted at workers further up the income distribution has grown from a tenth of the overall pot to a third.

Almost a third of local authorities in Great Britain already have employment rates of 80%, one in six have employment rates below 70%.

There is a sizeable gap between the UK’s employment rate of 75% and the top four countries who have achieved an 80% employment rate.

The employment rate gaps for 15-24-year-olds and 55-64-year-olds together explain three quarters of the difference in employment rates between the UK.

The UK stands out for having low employment rates amongst young people in education.

How can the UK achieve an 80% employment rate? What lessons can we learn from history and other countries?

The increases in employer National Insurance means that employers will have to pay an additional £900 for each employee on median average earnings. 

The cut in the point at which employer NICs is paid means the largest percentage rise in labour costs is for employing lower-wage workers.

Why do so few people move from incapacity benefits into work? What does this mean for government plans to get more people working?

Growth has been better than expected this year, but the UK’s recovery is not yet secure. Structural changes will require reform, not just investment.