The attempt to return to work has failed, Labor said, as employment levels are lower than pre-Covid.

Labor accused Rishi Sunak of not following through on the work plan. Photo: Simon Walker/No. 10 Downing Street

Labor blamed Rishi Sunak for failing to return to work as figures showed employment still below pre-pandemic levels.

A new analysis of official data has shown that unemployment is higher than before Covid hit nine of them. 12 regions and countries of the UK.

London experienced the sharpest drop, followed by Wales, with only Yorkshire and the Humber, the West Midlands and the North East recording any gains.

Jonathan Ashworth, Underground Works and Pensions Minister, said the numbers shows that the government is «failing» to get people back to work.

Data from the Office for National Statistics show that employment rates are lower than pre-pandemic levels in three-quarters of the UK.

Jonathan Ashworth, secretary of underground work and pensions, says the numbers show the government is failing to get people back to work. By: Geoff Gilbert

This is the sharpest drop in the two Labor boroughs: a 2.2% drop in London, meaning 80,000 fewer people working, and a 2.1% drop in Wales.

Mr Ashworth said: «The UK is the only G7 country that has a lower employment rate than before the pandemic and the blame for that lies entirely with this Conservative government.

«While the Tories running out of ideas and failing to get people back to work, Labor has a mission to deliver the highest sustainable growth in the G7.

“We will create good jobs in all parts of the country. and our welfare reform and job support plan will get the UK back to work.”

A blow to ministers

The numbers will come as a blow to ministers after Downing Street has placed the back-to-work agenda at the center of its plan to boost UK growth.

Mel Stride, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has conducted an extensive analysis of how to bring high levels of inactivity that are hampering the economy.

Last month, the Office of Fiscal Responsibility reported rising unemployment since the pandemic is now costing the country nearly £16bn a year.

It says the 2023-24 Social Security budget will increase by £6.8bn while the Treasury will lose £8.9bn in tax revenue. because there are fewer workers.

The surge in chronic diseases, which rose to 440,000 in the three months to April, is contributing to an overall increase in economic inactivity.

The most important factors are mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression. followed by musculoskeletal injuries such as back and neck pain.

The Tories said they would lower the number by taking action, including encouraging doctors to sign fewer sick leaves.

Testing job trainers

Ministers are also testing the placement of job trainers in health facilities so that people who want to return to work can easily access services.

Labor said it would make it easier for people who left due to ill health to return to work without fear of losing benefits if things went wrong.

Mr Ashworth said his party will stop re-evaluating benefits for these people as it aims for the UK to reach the highest employment rate in the G7.

But the Tories have indicated that the unemployment rate is highest in the Labor-ruled areas of the country.< /p>

Guy Opperman, Minister for Employment, said: «Time and time again, Labor has proven they can never be trusted to get more people to work.»

«Labour-run Wales has the highest unemployment rate in the UK, and no Labor government has left office with unemployment lower than when they took office.

“The Conservatives have helped four million more people secure paid jobs since 2010, and we continue to meet the prime minister’s five priorities.” minister: halve inflation, boost the economy, reduce debt, shorten queues and stop the boat.”