Debbie Abrahams, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on today’s ONS UK Labour Market statistics, said:

“It is welcome that there has been a fall in unemployment.  However, under the Tories long term pay growth continues to be sluggish and our economy is over-reliant on low paid insecure work.

“If Theresa May is serious about supporting working people we need to see serious action on tackling low pay and investing in the high-skilled high-wage jobs our economy needs.

“Why is the Government refusing to track social security claimants who leave JSA without knowing if they are in work? What impact is forced low paid self-employment having on the claimant count?  These figures only tell half the story.”

Ends

Notes to editors:

ONS, UK Labour Market Statistics: July 2016

http://www.ons.gov.uk/releases/uklabourmarketstatisticsjuly2016