More or Less: Behind the Stats The prime minister in statistical bother
Feb 9, 2022
The podcast tackles Boris Johnson's misleading claims about employment and crime, revealing a troubling narrative at odds with reality. It dives into the complexities of crime statistics, highlighting discrepancies and the need for accountability. The discussion transitions to the contentious policies around trans women's participation in sports, examining fairness and physiological advantages. Lastly, it ventures into the mysterious world of fungi, uncovering the vast number of undiscovered species and the challenges researchers face.
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Misleading Employment Figures
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson repeatedly claimed rising employment numbers, citing a 500,000 increase.
- The Office for Statistics Regulation corrected him, stating these figures were misleading and employment had actually fallen.
PAYE Data vs. Labour Force Survey
- PAYE data, used by the Prime Minister, only counts payroll employees, excluding a significant portion of self-employed individuals.
- The Labour Force Survey provides a more comprehensive measure, revealing a substantial decrease in overall employment.
Labour Force Participation Crisis
- The real issue isn't just employment levels but labour force participation.
- There's been a significant drop in the overall labour pool since the pandemic began.