The ONS analyses of HMRC RTI data shows a recovery in both employment and wages;
- Early estimates for May 2021 indicate that the number of payrolled employees rose by 0.5% compared with May 2020, which is a rise of 141,000 employees; the number of payrolled employees is down by 1.9% since February 2020, a fall of 553,000.
- In May 2021, 197,000 more people were in payrolled employment when compared with April 2021.
- Early estimates for May 2021 indicate that median monthly pay increased by 9.1%, compared with May 2020 and median pay increased by 5.6% when compared with February 2020.
- There was a 126,000 person decrease in payrolled employees aged younger than 25 years between May 2020 and May 2021.
- Annual growth in payrolled employees in May 2021 was the highest in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly, with a rise of 3.4%, and was lowest in Outer London (West and North West), with a fall of 2.7%.
- The increase in payrolled employees between May 2020 and May 2021 was largest in the health and social work sector (a rise of 195,000 employees) and smallest in the accommodation and food services sector (a fall of 187,000).
- For the first time since the start of the pandemic, three of the sectors that have had the greatest decreases have all seen substantial monthly increases in payrolled employees, according to flash estimates; between April and May 2021, accommodation and food services increased by 54,000 employees, arts and entertainment by 15,000, and wholesale and retail by 14,000.
- Annual growth in median pay for employees in May 2021 was highest in the other service activities sector (an increase of 20.2%) and lowest in the households sector (a decrease of 1.9%).
For the full report:
PAYadvice.UK 17/6/2021