These figures have drawn attention, especially as the government unveils plans to stimulate economic growth. The announcement of potential cuts to sickness and disability benefits has sparked considerable debate. Critics, including Labour representatives and various charities, argue that such cuts could exacerbate poverty among disabled individuals.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged the challenges ahead, stating that the latest figures highlight the difficulties in increasing employment levels across Britain. Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics cautioned that recent job figures should be interpreted with care due to low response rates to their employment surveys.
Despite these concerns, there was positive news about wage growth, which has continued to outpace inflation, with pay excluding bonuses rising by 5.9% year-on-year, particularly in sectors like retail and hospitality.
Vocabulary List:
- Inactivity /ˌɪnˈæk.tɪ.vɪ.ti/ (noun): The state of being inactive or not engaged in work or employment.
- Stimulate /ˈstɪm.jʊ.leɪt/ (verb): To encourage or provoke an activity or response.
- Exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt/ (verb): To make a problem bad situation or negative feeling worse.
- Cautioned /ˈkɔː.ʃənd/ (verb): To warn someone about a possible danger or problem.
- Interpreted /ɪnˈtɜː.prɪ.tɪd/ (verb): To explain the meaning of information or actions.
- Outpace /ˌaʊtˈpeɪs/ (verb): To move faster than someone or something; to surpass.
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