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UK unemployment dips to 3.8 per cent

Basic pay is now growing at its fastest since current records began, says director of economic statistics at ONS

UK unemployment dips to 3.8 per cent

UK UNEMPLOYMENT eased in the three months to the end of April but wage rises continue to lag inflation, official data showed Tuesday (13).

The unemployment rate decreased to 3.8 per cent from 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of March, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.

"While there has been another drop in the number of people neither working nor looking for work... those outside the jobs market due to long-term sickness continues to rise, to a new record," noted Darren Morgan, director of economic statistics at the ONS.

"In cash terms, basic pay is now growing at its fastest since current records began, apart from the period when the figures were distorted by the pandemic.

"However, even so, wage rises continue to lag behind inflation," he added.

Morgan said the number of people in work had past its pre-pandemic level for the first time, setting a new high.

"The biggest driver in recent jobs growth... is health and social care, followed by hospitality," he said.

(AFP)

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Priyanka Patel Inclusive Diwali

Diwali-themed event in Coventry marks the next partnership between The Empowered Desi and local business Sugar and Spice

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Priyanka Patel’s Empowered Desi brings inclusive Diwali celebration to Coventry

Highlights

  • Diwali celebration tomorrow kicks off business with ticketed workshops and networking.
  • Model taps into growing demand for inclusive, heritage-focused experiences.
  • Platform targets not just south Asians seeking cultural connection, but everyone.

Creating cultural belonging

Priyanka Patel, curator of The Empowered Desi, a new events platform for south Asians seeking cultural connection, is here with a Diwali celebration on Saturday (18) at Fargo Village in Coventry. The venture was born from personal experience – Patel felt "isolated and neglected" growing up without many south Asian friends. Spotting a gap in the market, she's now building a business around creating inclusive spaces for south Asians regardless of religious or regional background.

Diwali-themed , Paint N Sip event in Coventry marks the venture's next partnership with local business Sugar and Spice, Patel is offering a ticketed experience featuring diya decorating workshops, Indian grazing boards with chai, and jewellery stations where guests can take home jhumkas and bangles. The Diwali format combines cultural celebration with networking opportunities, with south Asian attire preferred.

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