Bit of good news re employment
 

Unemployment has dropped to 3.8% - lowest it’s been since 1974 it seems.

Quite, Clive. Remarkable really, considering how so many leaders of industry seem to lack faith in our ability to forge our own futures. Not to mention highly experienced financial gurus and elevated bank managers.

On just about every scale our sheer resilience, taken together with UK’s inestimable reputation for excellence, seems to triumph. Given enough doses of reality and persistent obstinacy we are on course for a massive revival of our fortunes – not seen since 1973/4. Rule Britannia!

I don't want to be gloom and doom, but are the figures calculated using the same methods each time. I recall many years ago, ytp participants and other temporary employment govt funded scheme participants were not counted, which seemingly dropped the figures overnight.

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Exactly, schemes and non qualifying persons for jobseekers get removed from the figures.

Indeed. I would be somewhat sceptical about such claims over such a long time. The methods used must have changed over time.

Try this: ://fullfact.org/economy/unemployment-lowest-1975/


Source is reputable.

The nearly 3m and increasing number of people on zero-hour contracts are also not included!

Anyone looking for a job will tell you how difficult it is to find one that pays a living wage.

I still cannot put faith into this either, consider the numbers of food banks and the people availing of them. 20 years ago, I thought food banks were a thing of yesteryear.

I have no facts figures, nor even interest in finding out, however, a bit of good sense would make someone question how the country could be doing better than before. 25 years ago, the basic income tax allowance was £3.5k, now it is somewhere around £10.5k, with more coming. Great, more disposable income, and yes (but obviously not £7k due to inflation, cost of living and general greed etc), there is, as well as minimum wages etc. But there is also the extension to pension ages, the lack of NHS resources (I know that is NI related). The 'encouragement' to buy into private pensions (and now I believe it is compulsory), as well as the increase of private healthcare and relevant insurance, all point to a poorer society overall. Another example, infrastructure investment or lack of (which again was not designed for the use it gets now). The reason you have fewer bin men, and wait for 6 weeks for an MOT, is because of the cut backs because the govt. dont have the finances to pay for the staff etc.

At the end of the day, it is about how these figures are calculated, using whichever figures is relevant to spin a pretty picture to it.

I do fear this is all done to distract or soften the blow of what has happened with the loss of British industry, etc.

You are correct this is not about the B word, leaving or staying (although I think EU partially relevant, as it was partially responsible for the loss of our industries and increased costs - but that is too late now, the EU in my view could be a safety net of sorts to allow our population the opportunity of finding work as an example).

In saying all that, I sound like a conspiracy theorist, do not take it so. I am not. Just a realist, and one who believes the population voted, the majority won. As a democratic society, we should deal with our lot, and work our way through it. Change it, but dont waste time trying to find blame for it.

For some, the commitment to a view is deadly serious while to others the same subject is not only boring but banned (!). In these days of deceit, the wilful refusal to bend and the ever-present sanction of censorship, it’s not surprising that clashes arise. Deservedly, all trust has gone.

At one time, when wider knowledge was limited to the ‘upper’ classes, they got away with it. Then Wat Tyler et al came along and spoiled everything. Oscar Ameringer (Socialist organiser) had it about right when he said the ‘Pol’ word was the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich by promising to protect each from the other. He meant it.

So, hence my preferred route through the maze of respected outlets for balanced views on news that might be disputed. I know I’ve changed my own mind on some things through seeking wider perspectives.

Which is why I wonder why my earlier post (number 7) has received neither criticism nor acceptance in what I thought was a valid reply to the OP. I’m not trying to persuade anybody of anything, just offering evidence - whilst at the same time trying to avert premature closure. If evidence is undisputed what's the point?

Your fact checker in black and white is perhaps correct, but, how these figures are gathered and differ between then and now, are not disclosed. Are people who claim whatever the current name for DLA is, counted on these unemployment figures? In the 70's I have been led to believe that to meet the requirements to obtain the 70s equivalent was much more stringent, therefore more unemployed. Nowadays if you stub your toe you can get it (am not complaining about those who deserve/need it by the way). So therefore those people are no longer unemployed ........

In the 70's retirement age was 60 and 65, so those of pension age were not counted, yet now these figures have changed (currently 66 and 66), along with the school leaving age being more common at 15/16 before, whereas now it is 18, yet I dont believe this is actually counted until 19, at which point you have more people I believe in university, so they dont count, even though some of those will work and pay tax (which will skew the figures).

Another potential anomaly (on a much smaller scale) to consider, is in the 80s and 90s, the benefits system was a lot more open for abuse, which would affect the numbers the opposite direction when perhaps those who 'did the double' (claiming and working at the same time). So back then, the unemployment rate may have been lower than it was in the 70s.

I am not saying they are wrong, nor have I got an inclination to find out, but there simply are too many variables in terms of measurements to make it a worthwhile declaration aside for the feel good factor (which there is nothing wrong with either!).