Our response to latest labour market statistics

Matthew Percival, CBI Director of People & Skills, said:

“As businesses recouped months of lost trade over the summer, the labour market showed positive signs of recovery too as employment and vacancy figures rose.

"However, ongoing supply and labour shortages are impeding further growth. Whilst firms accept a quick-fix overnight isn’t possible there are temporary and immediate measures the government must take to ease some of these pressures.

“In the longer-term, this means increasing investment in reskilling, automation and improved pay and conditions. But these steps take time to have impact, so we need a functional Shortage Occupation List too so that firms can temporarily fill the most significant vacancies.

“Government needs to immediately begin a review of shortages and accept the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations from last year to add extra jobs to the list”.