Beth Kitson, Research and Policy Analyst at Pro Bono Economics, said:

“With a further reduction in the number of vacancies and unemployment remaining unchanged on the quarter at 4.2%, the labour market continues to show signs of weakening generally.

“The longstanding challenge of economic inactivity continues to loom large in pockets of the UK. Nationally, economic inactivity increased 0.1 percentage points to 20.9%, compared with the previous quarter. Meanwhile, the latest available figures show the East of England, Yorkshire and the Humber, and London have experienced the highest annual increase in economic inactivity.

“Across the UK, there are charities providing the specialist employability support that is so badly needed to bring people back into the workplace, especially those with long-term mental ill health. The Chancellor would be well-served in finding a place for the sector in any solutions proposed to tackle this challenge in next week’s Autumn Statement."

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