The unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in the three
months to the end of January, up from 3.8 percent in the final quarter of last
year, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.
According to AFP, average regular pay growth, excluding
bonuses, fell to 6.1 percent from 6.2 percent, the ONS added.
Taking into account Britain’s annual inflation rate during
the reporting period, real wages rose by only two percent.
Like the Federal Reserve and European Central Bank, the Bank
of England is seen possibly cutting interest rates as soon as June as inflation
cools and following multiple hikes to combat soaring prices.
“The easing in wage growth… is probably still a bit too slow
for the Bank of England’s liking,” said Paul Dales, chief UK economist at
Capital Economics research group.
“But there are encouraging signs that a more marked slowdown
is just around the corner and that an interest rate cut in June is possible.”
Meanwhile, reactions have trailed the ban placed on foreign
health workers and caregivers from bringing their families to the UK in 2024.
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, James
Cleverly, said this in a statement on the Home Office X account on Monday
Cleverly said the UK imposed the ban as part of the plans to
reduce migration.
“From today (Monday), care workers entering the UK on Health
and Care Worker visas can no longer bring dependants,” Cleverly wrote.
“This is part of our plan to deliver the biggest ever cut in
migration,” he added.
Majority of the Africans, Asians and Britons criticised UK
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for implementing such a policy.
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