Commenting on the latest labour market figures published today by the Office for National Statistics, TUC General Secretary Frances O'Grady said:
'These figures show how government cuts are continuing to hit vital front-line services with 21,000 jobs lost in the NHS over the last three months alone. Despite the Chancellor's boasts this week, austerity is continuing to cause damage and we are far from a strong and sustained jobs recovery.
'While the headline figures show small improvements, youth employment has fallen sharply and long-term unemployment is still rising. There are also still record numbers of people trapped in involuntarily part-time work with underemployment continuing to soar.
'Across the economy ordinary people are yet to feel the benefits of tentative growth, with wages rising around three times slower than prices.'
