Number of underemployed workers jumps: reaction Many have learnt to sell their skills online. Our online marketplace has seen a 102% increase in freelancers signing up in the past year, suggesting this is not just a phase but a profound change in the labour market. An underemployed workforce is a wasted resource. But the growing market in freelance work offers the best hope of creating a more flexible workforce, and which wastes less of Britain's potential. Dr John Philpott, The Jobs Economist: The extent of underemployment identified in these official figures highlights the degree to which the headline unemployment count understates the current shortage of work in the UK economy Andrew Sissons, The Work Foundation: Underemployment is a serious concern that is getting worse despite improvements in the labour market overall, with one in ten workers now in this position," he said. Brendan Barber, TUC: Around 2.5m across the UK are currently out of work, but this figure only tells half the story," he said. John Salt, totaljobs.com: These figures paint the UK economic outlook in a positive light. Following the rush to take staff on for the Olympics, the UK faced a potential autumnal lull in the jobs market. However it seems we're over the last hurdle for 2012, with temporary workers due to be hired in time for Christmas, the UK labour force will grow into the new year. It seems that the private sector's inability to pick up the pieces has resulted in the public sector slowly starting to hire, which, alongside the continued increase in temporary and part-time workers, is helping to keep the UK economy afloat. However underemployment remains a concern, as the UK's reliance on high levels of part-time workers puts pressure on the living and working standards of many UK citizens. Karen Jennings, Unison: The Government likes to claim that the employment statistics are proof of our recovery. Under-employment statistics expose this claim as a sham. No wonder our economic growth has faltered - more than three million people are under-employed, many of them are stuck in part-time work but want full-time hours. Growing under-employment is masking broader economic problems and holding back the recovery. We desperately need people to be out spending to fuel a real recovery. The Government should intervene - creating jobs by investing in infrastructure and ending the public sector pay freeze to put money in people's pockets.