Let's look at the economic recovery in perspective

The number of people in employment across the country has reached a record high of 30.64 million, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The report, which was released last week, shows how Britain’s economic recovery is generating hundreds of thousands of new jobs. The number of people in work during the three months to May has increased by 254,000, compared to the previous trimester.

Figures shows that during the same period the number of unemployed people dropped by 121,00 and the number of those not in the labour force aged 16-64 years fell by 67,000.

“People have had  a tough time since 2007, but if we really look at what has been happening during the last two years, that imbalances significantly pre-2010. Even though it is still a tough time for people, what they can see now is the journey that we are on, the projection that we are on, growing faster than other developed nations”, the Employment Minister Esther McVey said.

Even according to the economists, there are encouraging signs that the six-year squeeze on living standards may soon be at an end. 

Some people, however, are not feeling the recovery, with average base pay rising just 0.7 per cent, which is well below the 1.9 per cent rate of inflation. As if this was not enough,  the number of those in part-time work is higher than a year ago and the more flexible-hours culture is here to stay. 

But Ms McVey said: “The recovery is giving hope, confidence, optimism and we see that specifically now, within businesses who are taking on more people because they can see the journey we are on”.

“The priority is to make sure that we get more people into employment and more importantly, we have to look at progression in the workplace, look at our labour force, make sure people are getting their career path to get the economy as strong as possible”, she added.