Reacting to the publication, today, of the latest UK employment figures, Bernard Brown, Partner and Head of Business Services at KPMG, says:
“The latest figures do nothing to lift the gloom felt by Britain’s young unemployed, or those with plenty of experience to offer. Certainly, their frustrations will only deepen if uncertainties around the Eurozone crisis continue to creep through business and if fears over poor Christmas sales are realised.
“Yet the figures should not be looked at in isolation. They come just a short while after the Chancellor announced a raft of measures designed to kick start the economy. Plans to invest heavily in Britain’s infrastructure, coupled with proposals such as the new Youth Contract and extending apprenticeships, should not go un-noticed. They may not have an immediate effect, but the impact they offer for the medium to long-term cannot not be dismissed.
“Our wider research also suggests that employers are placing some jobs on hold because they are not prepared to fill them unless candidates have the right skills. If job seekers take this to heart and begin to develop their skill set and qualifications, the long-term benefit at an individual and macro-economic level should also be positive.”
Ends
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Mike Petrook, KPMG Press Office
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Notes to Editors:
About KPMG
KPMG LLP, a UK limited liability partnership, is a subsidiary of KPMG Europe LLP and operates from 22 offices across the UK with nearly 11,000 partners and staff. The UK firm recorded a turnover of £1.6 billion in the year ended September 2010. KPMG is a global network of professional firms providing Audit, Tax, and Advisory services. We operate in 150 countries and have more than 138,000 professionals working in member firms around the world. The independent member firms of the KPMG network are affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative ("KPMG International"), a Swiss entity. KPMG International provides no client services.
