Responding to the latest ONS labour market statistics, Jane Gratton, Deputy Director of Public Policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 

“There are some further signs of loosening in the jobs market as vacancies continue to fall and wage growth slows. 

“But pay continues to outpace inflation by some margin and high levels of economic inactivity mean recruitment difficulties are likely to persist. 

“With over 850,000 more people no longer seeking work than before the pandemic, this remains a big concern. 

“Dig deeper into this data and the numbers who are inactive due to long-term sickness have increased by more than 650,000 since early 2020. 

“The autumn statement presents a key opportunity to reverse this trend. Action needs to be taken to help employers promote good health and wellbeing and for people not to fall out of work unnecessarily.   

“Removing the tax on workplace medical insurance and cash health plans for employers and their people would encourage more take up.”