Overview of the labour market [February 2012]

Inevitably current interest in the Scottish labour market continues to focus on the levels and trends in employment and unemployment and again we return to these themes. In addition the UK Government has announced plans to 'radically reform employment relations' (Vince Cable 23.11.2011), in Scotland the proposals to introduce both a national police force and national fire service have been published. Attention also focussed on the rates of pay and bonuses in the financial sector to the neglect of pay relativities, other changes in pay, earnings and pensions for other groups, the subject of industrial action within the public sector at the end of 2011.