Industrial Relations in the United Kingdom
| Author | John Gennard |
| Published date | 01 March 1979 |
| Date | 01 March 1979 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8543.1979.tb00632.x |
Chronicle
Industrial Relations in the United Kingdom
August-November
1978
STATISTICAL BACKGROUND TO THE INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SCENE
The Labour Market-Great Britain
In the period under review, on
a
seasonally adjusted basis, the level
of
unemployment hasshown
signs
of
improvement. In the three month period to August the number
of
unemployed on a
seasonal basis increased on average by
8,000
per
month. In the three month period to September,
however, the corresponding figure was an average monthly increase
of
4,000
but for the three
month period to October the figure was an average monthly decrease
of
3,000.
In each
of
the four
months reviewed here both the absolute and seasonally adjusted levels of unemployment were
lower than for the corresponding months
of
1977.
However, some economic forecasters see this
improvement as temporary and are predicting that unemployment. on
a
seasonal basis, will
increase again in the coming winter months.
Totd
Perrentuge Seasonally adjusted unemployed,
unemployed
(000s)
unemployed excluding school leavers
(000s)
Month
I978 I977 I978
I977
1978
1977
August
1.534
1,567
6.6
6.7 1,331 1,354
September
1.447
1
.542 6.2
6.6
1,317 1,378
October
1,365 1,438
5.9
6.2 1.300 1,375
November
1,331 1,438
5.7
6.2 1,282 1,373
The number
of
job vacancies has continued
to
increase. This is
a
continuation
of
a trend that
began in November
1977.
In October the number
of
unfilled vacancies, on
a
seasonal basis, were at
their highest level since November
1974.
In addition to reflecting an improvement in economic
activity the present vacancies figures are
also
seen
as
evidence
of
significant skill shortages in
certain labour markets.
Unfilled Vacancies in Great Britain for Adults
Seasonally Adjusted
(000s)
Month
I978
I977
August
208 151
September
217 145
October
227 154
November
230
157
Wages
and
Earnings
The period under review has secn an increase in the year on year change in both weekly and
hourly wage rates. The annual rate
of
increase in both Indices is now running at over
16
per cent.
The principal
groups
of
workers receiving increases between August and November were in
general printing (Scotland), shipbuilding and ship repairing, toy manufacture,
Co-op
Retail
Societies. retail drapery, cement manufacture, road haulage and Government Industrial estab-
lishments.
105
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