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Responding to the labour market stats release by ONS on 17 February 2026, Stephen Evans, Chief Executive at Learning and Work Institute, said:
“Low economic growth and rising employer costs continue to take a toll with a worrying one in seven 18-24 year olds now estimated to be unemployed. Overall, employment is falling, unemployment rising and vacancies flat. The data are, however, subject to revision: last months estimated 42,000 fall in payroll employment has now been revised to just 6,000. Nonetheless weaker hiring demand from employers, particularly in retail and hospitality where 122,000 fewer people are in payroll employment, is having an impact.”
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