Go to Britain’s parks, beauty spots, golf courses, beaches, seaside resorts on a sunny afternoon and you will find them busy. It’s the same in the bars and restaurants. The popular ones are doing a roaring trade — in the middle of the day.
Many of these people are elderly. But a lot of the folk out enjoying themselves are younger and definably not of pensionable age.
Possibly they’re on holiday or have jobs with flexible hours. Again, not all. A large portion are not employed in any capacity whatsoever.
It’s clear, just from looking around, that Britain isn’t working.
People retiring early, says Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, is causing the steepest price rises in any large rich country.
Bailey said the sharp decline in the number of people in the workforce was “part of the reason why we have had to raise the bank rate by as much as we have”.
The rise in inactivity of people aged 50 to 64, he said, was “particularly striking”.
Those retiring early are dipping into their savings to maintain their lifestyle, which is propping up demand in the economy — at the same time as dropping out of the workforce and reducing the supply of labour.
Said Bailey: “We should expect this to put upward pressure on inflation in a way that would call for a higher level of interest rates to dampen demand.”
It is strange what is going on. Among wealthy nations, the UK appears to be unique in having a workforce that is smaller than before the pandemic.
There are more than 1.1 million unfilled jobs across the country, 40 per cent more than at the beginning of 2020.
Just why is hard to fathom. Partly it has been driven by a surge in people taking early retirement after working fewer hours and enjoying being at home during Covid.
Some may also be suffering from long-term illnesses and medical conditions. Record backlogs in Britain’s NHS may be a factor, in that people can’t get treated but, in the meantime, they quit working.
Brexit, also unique to Britain, and the timing of its implementation with the onset of Covid, and EU workers returning home, not to return, may be another contributor.
Shortage of skills is another. Manpower says four in five businesses are struggling to fill vacancies because of a lack of skilled workers — the highest number in 17 years, according to the employment group’s annual study. The number of employers reporting skills shortages has increased six-fold over the last decade and more than doubled since pre-Brexit and the pandemic.
The most difficult jobs to fill, says Manpower, are in energy and utilities, health care, transport, real estate and computing.
We are suffering from disappearing workers. It’s long been a worry in Whitehall, in the Treasury, that Britain is being held back by people retiring early or going part-time, ceasing to work 9 to 5, five days a week. More than eight million people — a quarter of the UK workforce — are in part-time work, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The current trend among the younger age group, to only work the minimum hours expected of them, is not helping. Employers repeatedly complain they cannot get younger staff to work overtime, even for boosted pay; that they’re not interested in advancing their careers by putting in the hours.
This disinterested approach is borne out by a recent survey by City & Guilds. It found that more than 250,000 18 to 24-year-olds have been put off working for life. Thirty per cent don’t feel they will be able to meet their career ambitions, while 9 per cent — which equates to 227,000 people — say they never intend to start working at all.
Those who do intend to work remain downbeat about their chances of getting a job. Of those surveyed, 43 per cent said their education had not equipped them with the skills they need to get the job they want. A further 29 per cent said they could not get interviews and 19 per cent said there just weren’t the jobs available in their area.
So bad has it become that defence chiefs are even permitting dismissed squaddies to reapply to the army because of a shortage of troops.
They are taking a second look at those who were sacked for theft, brawling, failing drug tests or going missing. Soldiers who were medically or mentally discharged from service may even be allowed to return and retain their compensation. The opportunity is extended to anyone who accepted redundancy.
More than £70 million ($86.16 million) was spent on recruitment campaigns by military chiefs between 2019 and 2021, but they’re now having to resort to calling fired soldiers back. The return age has also been increased from 52 to 57.
It’s a two-pronged crisis: lack of skills coupled with people not wanting to work or learn those skills. Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG, flagged shortage of skills and workplace participation as “two structural issues that dominate the longer-term risks to the UK outlook”.
Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, used his budget this month to encourage over-50s to stay in work longer, introducing measures such as scrapping a cap on the amount that can be saved in a pension pot without paying tax.
Bailey said: “I welcome them, I think they’re really addressing the right things.” He added: “I’m pleased we’re having more of a national debate on the labour supply because it’s very important.”
The governor is right. We urgently need to confront this growing issue. Hunt cannot stop there: much more needs to be done and by employers as well as government.
MATCH INFO
Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')
Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')
Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
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Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Esperance de Tunis 0
Al Ain 3 (Ahmed 02’, El Shahat 17’, Al Ahbabi 60’)
Company%20Profile
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Match info
Manchester United 1 (Van de Beek 80') Crystal Palace 3 (Townsend 7', Zaha pen 74' & 85')
Man of the match Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace)
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
MO
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
CREW
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Seven tips from Emirates NBD
1. Never respond to e-mails, calls or messages asking for account, card or internet banking details
2. Never store a card PIN (personal identification number) in your mobile or in your wallet
3. Ensure online shopping websites are secure and verified before providing card details
4. Change passwords periodically as a precautionary measure
5. Never share authentication data such as passwords, card PINs and OTPs (one-time passwords) with third parties
6. Track bank notifications regarding transaction discrepancies
7. Report lost or stolen debit and credit cards immediately
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
De De Pyaar De
Produced: Luv Films, YRF Films
Directed: Akiv Ali
Cast: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Rakul Preet Singh, Jimmy Sheirgill, Jaaved Jaffrey
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Six tips to secure your smart home
Most smart home devices are controlled via the owner's smartphone. Therefore, if you are using public wi-fi on your phone, always use a VPN (virtual private network) that offers strong security features and anonymises your internet connection.
Keep your smart home devices’ software up-to-date. Device makers often send regular updates - follow them without fail as they could provide protection from a new security risk.
Use two-factor authentication so that in addition to a password, your identity is authenticated by a second sign-in step like a code sent to your mobile number.
Set up a separate guest network for acquaintances and visitors to ensure the privacy of your IoT devices’ network.
Change the default privacy and security settings of your IoT devices to take extra steps to secure yourself and your home.
Always give your router a unique name, replacing the one generated by the manufacturer, to ensure a hacker cannot ascertain its make or model number.
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FIGHT%20CARD
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WITHIN%20SAND
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
