A worker delivers goods from a lorry advertising driving and warehouse vacancies in Leicester Square, London. Vacancies have increased in the UK amid a chronic labour shortage. AFP
A worker delivers goods from a lorry advertising driving and warehouse vacancies in Leicester Square, London. Vacancies have increased in the UK amid a chronic labour shortage. AFP
A worker delivers goods from a lorry advertising driving and warehouse vacancies in Leicester Square, London. Vacancies have increased in the UK amid a chronic labour shortage. AFP
A worker delivers goods from a lorry advertising driving and warehouse vacancies in Leicester Square, London. Vacancies have increased in the UK amid a chronic labour shortage. AFP

OECD employment rate edges up to 67.4 per cent in second quarter


Alice Haine
  • English
  • Arabic

Employment in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries rose slightly in the second quarter of 2021, as economies edged into recovery mode after the Covid-19 pandemic

The overall employment rate among the 38 members of the group reached 67.4 per cent in the three months to September 30, up from the 66.8 per cent recorded in the previous quarter.

“Increases were reported in more than four fifths of OECD countries,” the Paris-based organisation said in a statement on Thursday.

The OECD group includes several countries in the eurozone, as well as the US, Japan and the UK.

Hiring has accelerated in major economies as the rate of Covid-19 infections slows and movement restrictions ease, leading to increased economic activity.

In Britain, a number of major brands have gone on a hiring spree with the job vacancies in the UK hitting a record high of 1.2 million in September amid a chronic labour shortage, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Employment hit 75.1 per cent in the second quarter, according to the OECD, while the ONS found unemployment fell to 4.5 per cent in the three months to August, down from its pandemic peak of 5.2 per cent at the end of last year.

Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund revised down global economic growth for 2021 to 5.9 per cent from its July estimate of 6 per cent as a result of Covid-19 outbreaks, uneven access to vaccines, supply chain disruptions and risks from rising inflation.

In the eurozone, the employment rate increased to 67.6 per cent in the second quarter of the year, the OECD said, slightly lower than the 68.9 per cent in the US and 72.4 per cent in Canada.

A large disparity was observed within the European economic bloc, with the employment rate ranging from a maximum of 79.3 per cent in Iceland to 56.4 per cent in Greece.

While the quarterly rise in employment across the OECD “suggests overall recovery towards pre-pandemic rates", the organisation said care is needed in interpreting the data.

The EU has changed its methodology in its Labour Force Survey, while a large part of the increases seen in the third and fourth quarters of 2020 in the US and Canada reflect the return to work of furloughed workers.

A strong increase in the employment rate was also observed in Mexico, while Australia and Japan recorded slight increases.

The figure declined, however, in Costa Rica and Colombia.

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Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

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Power: 240hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 390Nm at 3,000rpm

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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

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Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

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Liverpool's all-time goalscorers

Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
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Essentials

The flights

Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes. 
 

The stay

A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.

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Gran Gala del Calcio 2019 winners

Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta​​​​​​​
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
Serie B Best Young Player: Sandro Tonali (Brescia)
Best Women’s Goal: Thaisa (Milan vs Juventus)
Best Women’s Player: Manuela Giugliano (Milan)
Best Women’s XI: Laura Giuliani (Milan); Alia Guagni (Fiorentina), Sara Gama (Juventus), Cecilia Salvai (Juventus), Elisa Bartoli (Roma); Aurora Galli (Juventus), Manuela Giugliano (Roma), Valentina Cernoia (Juventus); Valentina Giacinti (Milan), Ilaria Mauro (Fiorentina), Barbara Bonansea (Juventus)

Community Shield info

Where, when and at what time Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday at 5pm (UAE time)

Arsenal line up (3-4-2-1) Petr Cech; Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Nacho Monreal; Hector Bellerin, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck; Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Chelsea line up (3-4-2-1) Thibaut Courtois; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Gary Cahill; Victor Moses, Cesc Fabregas, N'Golo Kante, Marcos Alonso; Willian, Pedro; Michy Batshuayi

Chelsea manager Antonio Conte

Referee Bobby Madley

The biog

Favourite food: Tabbouleh, greek salad and sushi

Favourite TV show: That 70s Show

Favourite animal: Ferrets, they are smart, sensitive, playful and loving

Favourite holiday destination: Seychelles, my resolution for 2020 is to visit as many spiritual retreats and animal shelters across the world as I can

Name of first pet: Eddy, a Persian cat that showed up at our home

Favourite dog breed: I love them all - if I had to pick Yorkshire terrier for small dogs and St Bernard's for big

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Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali

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Bio:

Favourite Quote: Prophet Mohammad's quotes There is reward for kindness to every living thing and A good man treats women with honour

Favourite Hobby: Serving poor people 

Favourite Book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite food: Fish and vegetables

Favourite place to visit: London

Updated: October 21, 2021, 11:25 AM