The tightest U.K. labor market in living memory is failing to tempt people back into work, creating severe shortages for employers. Unemployment is at levels last lower in the 1970s, and job vacancies are at record highs. Yet there are 570,000 fewer available workers than before the pandemic struck. The number of people declared inactive — neither in work nor looking for a job — rose further in the three months through February to 8.86 million, the Office for National Statistics said Tuesday. That the equivalent of 21.4% of the population aged 16 to 64, the highest rate since 2017. The figures suggest there is no end in sight to the skill shortages that blight sectors from computing to haulage and hospitality. The squeeze is pushing up wages, with some […]