[Bromley, 21-07-2023] The United Kingdom's unemployment rate has increased by 0.2 percentage points to 4.0 percent from March to May 2023. This rise was caused by the increase in the number of people who were unemployed for up to 12 months.

Concern for a Slight Increase in Unemployment
The Head of People Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, Jane Gratton, commented on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) labor market figures, stating that although unemployment is still low, the 0.2 percentage point increase is worrying. She hopes it is just a temporary occurrence instead of a sign of a continuing trend. Gratton expressed concern about the ongoing tightness of the labor market, which is adding strain to businesses in terms of expenses and challenges.

Skills Shortages
Ms. Gratton added that their research shows that around 73 percent of firms are experiencing skills shortages. The shortages have hurt growth and business activity. Due to staff shortages, some of these firms are forced to decline new business opportunities.

Competition for Skilled Workers
Additionally, businesses struggle to fill job vacancies due to tough competition for skilled workers, high wage demands, and high expectations from candidates. Additionally, rising interest rates and persistent inflation add to the challenges businesses face, making the environment risky.

Government Assistance
The government should help more people find jobs and encourage employers to invest in staff training and development, which is a process that requires time. Firms must also address the short-term issues they face with staff recruitment and retention. If they cannot find suitable candidates locally or nationally, having a flexible, efficient, and affordable immigration system becomes essential. This should be a priority to prevent wage inflation and promote healthy growth in the UK.

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Triumph Consultants Ltd (TCL) is a company that provides temporary, contract, interim, and permanent staff to the public sector. They primarily work with local governments, central government, emergency services, police, and organizations within the education and health sectors. The company supplies temps, interims, and permanent recruitment services to over-sector clients nationwide, covering a diverse range of fields and various levels of seniority.

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