Job adverts jump up in Wales – but signs of recovery and ‘building back better’ are premature

Economy
Image by 3D Animation Production Company from Pixabay
NewsNovember 20th, 2020

In the second week of November, Wales saw the largest increase in online job adverts in the UK. But this should not be seen as the start of economic recovery.

The figures also reveal that on a UK-level, the wholesale and retail and the catering and hospitality sectors are being hit the hardest by far. This will only add to persistent anxiety over the future of businesses in these sectors, and how much of the sectors will be left to ‘build back better’.

Crucially, the new data does not tell us what kind of jobs are being posted. We simply do not know if the jobs being advertised are low paid, offering insecure work with unstable hours, or with inadequate sick pay coverage. These details must be clarified to ensure trends in job growth are properly understood, and that the need for recovery does not lead to a downgrading in workers terms and conditions. We must avoid a zero-sum game between the quality and the quantity of work available.

Our fortnightly Fair Work Focus highlights developments in Wales relevant to working characteristics, including low pay, hours worked, health & safety, and worker voice. Keep up to date and read the issues for free here.

Search

Search and filter the archive using any of the following fields:

  • Choose Type:

  • Choose Focus:

  • Choose Tag:

Close