Pay freezes in the private sector are on a downward trend, according to data from research organisation Labour Research Department.

In the private sector, the median pay increase was 2% in the three months to April, with pay freezes forming 17% of pay settlements, while in the public sector the median was 2.3%.  

The LRD’s pay and conditions researcher Lewis Emery says: “Public sector unions are already very unhappy about plans to hold down wages. With the rise in inflation, and pressure from comparisons with the private sector, it may be hard for whichever party is in government after the election to keep the lid on public sector pay.”