Latest Articles By Simon Collyer

WALES: The employment rate in Wales was 75.0%. This is 0.4 percentage points down on the quarter and 0.3 percentage points up on the year. UK: The UK employment rate was 76.1%. This is unchanged on the quarter and 0.6 percentage points up on the year...

FINANCIALLY SQUEEZED PENSIONERS - Pensioners have long been discussed as some of the wealthiest people in the country. For example, in the mid-1980s only around 1% of those aged 65 and over in the UK were living in severe poverty, putting it equ...

SCHOOL UNIFORMS - The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, T.D., today confirmed that over 130,000 families have received the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment in respect of 239,230 children sinc...

MAJOR HOUSING CONFERANCE - The countdown is on for the Social Housing Scottish Annual Conference which takes place in just over two weeks. Organisers say you can meet 150+ business leaders from across the Scottish housing sector in one place under on...

RENTS SKYROCKET - Some interesting research here showing the relationship between employment and rental increases. Research by lettings management platform Howsy has looked at how employment rates impact rental growth and where is home to the best mi...

YOUNG PEOPLE GET JOBS - In July 2019, 61.8 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds participated in the labor force. That is, they were working or looking for work. The July 2019 labor force participation rate for youth was notably higher than the July rates f...

STAFF ON STRIKE - 200 Universal Credit call handers, members of the Public Commercial Services union (PCS) will stage a two-day strike next week after "running out of patience" with what they say are cuts and overwork. More than 200 workers are set t...

STRIPPERS ON UNIVERSAL CREDIT - Universal Credit claimants have been told they can work as strippers after a blunder on the Department for Work and Pensions website. In a post, which has now been removed, the government suggested the kind of "work yo...

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY - Jobcentre Plus offices and phonelines in England, Scotland and Wales will be closed on Monday 26 August. To make sure people receive their payments on a day when Jobcentre Plus offices are open, some benefits due to be paid on M...

PENSIONS UPDATE -The UK leaving the EU will not affect your entitlement to continue receiving your UK State Pension if you live in the EU, EEA or Switzerland. The UK government would wish to continue uprating pensions but wil...