This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50345761
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| General election 2019: The jobs eight out of 10 Britons do | |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| The UK is gearing up for another election, which means politicians of all parties fighting for the votes of what they call "ordinary" or "hard-working" people. | The UK is gearing up for another election, which means politicians of all parties fighting for the votes of what they call "ordinary" or "hard-working" people. |
| There are record numbers of people in work in the UK, although concerns have been raised about the quality of their employment and pay levels. | There are record numbers of people in work in the UK, although concerns have been raised about the quality of their employment and pay levels. |
| So, what jobs do we do in Britain, and what might be on workers' minds? | So, what jobs do we do in Britain, and what might be on workers' minds? |
| A nation of service industry workers | A nation of service industry workers |
| When politicians want to appeal to working people, they tend to don hard hats and head to factories or construction sites. | When politicians want to appeal to working people, they tend to don hard hats and head to factories or construction sites. |
| These workplaces may look good in pictures, but they do not chime with most people's experience of work. | These workplaces may look good in pictures, but they do not chime with most people's experience of work. |
| Fewer than one in 10 people work in manufacturing, and even fewer in construction. | Fewer than one in 10 people work in manufacturing, and even fewer in construction. |
| In contrast, more than four out of five people work in service industries. | In contrast, more than four out of five people work in service industries. |
| This covers everything from bank workers to plumbers and restaurant staff - the businesses that provide work for customers, but which don't manufacture things. | This covers everything from bank workers to plumbers and restaurant staff - the businesses that provide work for customers, but which don't manufacture things. |
| These service sector jobs have grown over time: 25 years ago they made up three-quarters of employment. | These service sector jobs have grown over time: 25 years ago they made up three-quarters of employment. |
| Many of these jobs have been in public administration, education and health. | Many of these jobs have been in public administration, education and health. |
| Not all service sector jobs are growing though. | Not all service sector jobs are growing though. |
| The recent woes of the retail sector have been well documented, but its share of the overall workforce has been shrinking since 2003. | The recent woes of the retail sector have been well documented, but its share of the overall workforce has been shrinking since 2003. |
| Workers are older and more likely to be female | Workers are older and more likely to be female |
| The world of work may once have been a man's world, but that is no longer the case. | The world of work may once have been a man's world, but that is no longer the case. |
| At the start of the 1970s, a little over one-third of workers were women. | At the start of the 1970s, a little over one-third of workers were women. |
| But rapid growth in female employment during the 1970s and 1980s means that women now make up almost half of the workforce. | But rapid growth in female employment during the 1970s and 1980s means that women now make up almost half of the workforce. |
| However, there are still big challenges in terms of how men and women experience work, like the enduring gender pay gap - which is about 17% for all employees and 9% among full-time staff. | However, there are still big challenges in terms of how men and women experience work, like the enduring gender pay gap - which is about 17% for all employees and 9% among full-time staff. |
| Nonetheless, rising female employment has been one of the key drivers of improvements in living standards over the past 50 years. | Nonetheless, rising female employment has been one of the key drivers of improvements in living standards over the past 50 years. |
| More recently, the workforce has also grown older. | More recently, the workforce has also grown older. |
| Nearly one in three people in work is now aged 50 and over, compared to just over one in five back in 1992. | Nearly one in three people in work is now aged 50 and over, compared to just over one in five back in 1992. |
| This trend is being driven by rising life expectancy, the progress of the large baby boomer generation through their careers and policy changes like the increasing state pension age. | This trend is being driven by rising life expectancy, the progress of the large baby boomer generation through their careers and policy changes like the increasing state pension age. |
| A work life less ordinary | A work life less ordinary |
| The changing nature of work - and the jobs people do to make ends meet - has become an increasingly important issue. | The changing nature of work - and the jobs people do to make ends meet - has become an increasingly important issue. |
| Over the last decade, we've heard a lot about the rise of zero-hours contracts, and the emerging gig economy. | Over the last decade, we've heard a lot about the rise of zero-hours contracts, and the emerging gig economy. |
| The term is often used to describe short-term casual work, although there is some disagreement about exactly what it means and the number of jobs it includes. | The term is often used to describe short-term casual work, although there is some disagreement about exactly what it means and the number of jobs it includes. |
| However, what is clear is that ways of working that might be thought of as less traditional have increased. | However, what is clear is that ways of working that might be thought of as less traditional have increased. |
| In the UK, there are nearly five million self-employed people, from highly-paid management consultants to delivery drivers - an increase of more than 50% since the turn of the millennium. | In the UK, there are nearly five million self-employed people, from highly-paid management consultants to delivery drivers - an increase of more than 50% since the turn of the millennium. |
| In addition, there are 870,000 workers on zero-hours contracts, 770,000 agency workers and 1.5 million temporary workers. | In addition, there are 870,000 workers on zero-hours contracts, 770,000 agency workers and 1.5 million temporary workers. |
| These forms of employment grew markedly in the mid-2010s. But their share of the labour market has fallen slightly since then, as Britain's employment rate has risen. | These forms of employment grew markedly in the mid-2010s. But their share of the labour market has fallen slightly since then, as Britain's employment rate has risen. |
| It may be that firms have had to improve work conditions - for example by offering permanent, fixed-hours contracts - as they find it harder to recruit. | It may be that firms have had to improve work conditions - for example by offering permanent, fixed-hours contracts - as they find it harder to recruit. |
| But these falls have been small, suggesting this type of working isn't going anywhere. | But these falls have been small, suggesting this type of working isn't going anywhere. |
| A traditional full-time job is still the norm | A traditional full-time job is still the norm |
| Although the world of work is evolving, it is still the case that most people have what might be called traditional jobs. | Although the world of work is evolving, it is still the case that most people have what might be called traditional jobs. |
| Nearly two-thirds of people in work have full-time roles for an employer - a proportion that has fallen only slightly since the early 1990s. | Nearly two-thirds of people in work have full-time roles for an employer - a proportion that has fallen only slightly since the early 1990s. |
| But what constitutes a day's work has changed over time. For the past 150 years, we have consistently chosen to work less, as average hourly pay has risen. | But what constitutes a day's work has changed over time. For the past 150 years, we have consistently chosen to work less, as average hourly pay has risen. |
| The average working week is now 32 hours long, down from 56 a century ago. | The average working week is now 32 hours long, down from 56 a century ago. |
| But, since the 2007-8 financial crisis, our working week has stopped shrinking, possibly because wage stagnation has meant that workers are keen to make extra cash. | But, since the 2007-8 financial crisis, our working week has stopped shrinking, possibly because wage stagnation has meant that workers are keen to make extra cash. |
| The minimum wage has helped low earners | The minimum wage has helped low earners |
| For most people, living standards are determined by whether they have a job - and how much they get paid. | For most people, living standards are determined by whether they have a job - and how much they get paid. |
| For the lowest-paid workers, the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in 1999 set a minimum hourly rate for the first time. | For the lowest-paid workers, the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in 1999 set a minimum hourly rate for the first time. |
| It has since risen faster than both inflation and average earnings. As a result, hourly pay for the lowest earners has risen nearly twice as fast as average pay over the past 20 years. | It has since risen faster than both inflation and average earnings. As a result, hourly pay for the lowest earners has risen nearly twice as fast as average pay over the past 20 years. |
| The National Living Wage - the higher wage floor for workers aged 25 and over - has taken the minimum wage to new heights. | The National Living Wage - the higher wage floor for workers aged 25 and over - has taken the minimum wage to new heights. |
| Pay is improving - but not for everyone | Pay is improving - but not for everyone |
| Britain has experienced an unprecedented pay squeeze over the past decade. But in 2019 the picture has been more positive, with real pay growth approaching its pre-crisis average of about 2% a year. | Britain has experienced an unprecedented pay squeeze over the past decade. But in 2019 the picture has been more positive, with real pay growth approaching its pre-crisis average of about 2% a year. |
| Average pay looks set to finally surpass its August 2007 peak later this year. | Average pay looks set to finally surpass its August 2007 peak later this year. |
| Some groups are still in the middle of a pay downturn. They include thirty-somethings, many of whom entered the labour market at the height of the financial crisis, along with public sector workers and those in the south-east. | Some groups are still in the middle of a pay downturn. They include thirty-somethings, many of whom entered the labour market at the height of the financial crisis, along with public sector workers and those in the south-east. |
| The possible return to "peak pay" is an important living standards milestone. But had pay consistently grown at 2% per year, rather than getting stuck in a 12-year downturn, then the average weekly salary today would be £138 higher. | The possible return to "peak pay" is an important living standards milestone. But had pay consistently grown at 2% per year, rather than getting stuck in a 12-year downturn, then the average weekly salary today would be £138 higher. |
| About this piece | About this piece |
| This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. | This analysis piece was commissioned by the BBC from an expert working for an outside organisation. |
| Laura Gardiner is research director at the Resolution Foundation, specialising in the labour market. | Laura Gardiner is research director at the Resolution Foundation, specialising in the labour market. |
| The Resolution Foundation describes itself as a think tank that works to improve the living standards of those on low to middle incomes. | The Resolution Foundation describes itself as a think tank that works to improve the living standards of those on low to middle incomes. |