Closer inspection of UK jobs market reveals economic scars of Covid | Larry Elliott

While the pandemic has not led to a jump in unemployment, its impact on the over-50s and public sector staff is particularly troubling

At first glance, the UK jobs market is in rude health. The unemployment rate is back to where it was before the Covid pandemic arrived two years ago and job vacancies are at a record high.

But just as X-rays can pick up health problems not detectable to the naked eye, so a closer inspection of the labour market shows up some hidden damage. The Covid crisis has not led to the sharp increase in joblessness that was feared, but it has still left scars.