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.
How much do you know?
What was the economic inactivity rate among working-age adults in the UK in the three months leading up to January?
What do critics fear about potential cuts to sickness and disability benefits as per the content?
Who acknowledged the challenges in increasing employment levels across Britain?
What was the year-on-year wage growth rate mentioned in the content?
In which sectors did pay excluding bonuses rise by 5.9% year-on-year?
What did the Office for National Statistics caution about recent job figures?
The economic inactivity rate decreased from the same period last year.
Critics support potential cuts to sickness and disability benefits.
Recent wage growth was below the inflation rate.
The announcement of potential cuts to sickness and disability benefits was not controversial.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall highlighted positive news about job figures.
The economic inactivity rate increased in the three months leading up to January.
The economic inactivity rate stood at in the three months leading up to January.
Wage growth, excluding bonuses, rose by year-on-year according to the content.
Potential cuts to sickness and disability benefits sparked considerable .
Recent job figures should be interpreted with care due to low rates to their employment surveys.
Critics suggest that cuts to sickness and disability benefits could exacerbate poverty among disabled .
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged the challenges in increasing employment levels across .
