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Responding to the labour market stats release by ONS on 21 April 2026, Dr Helen Gray, Chief Economist at Learning and Work Institute, said:
“This month’s labour market statistics are a tale of two sectors, with regular pay in the public sector increasing by 5.2 per cent over the past year, compared with private sector annual wage growth of 3.2 per cent over the same period. With inflation at 3.2 per cent in the year to February, wage increases are only just keeping up with price rises in the private sector. As the Iran war continues to contribute to inflationary pressures for employees and employers alike, the prospects for job opportunities in general and the standard of living for those in the private sector in particular look increasingly concerning.”
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