Podcast Summary
LinkedIn's hidden talent pool and NHS's progress in reducing waiting times: LinkedIn is a valuable source for hiring professionals, as many potential candidates may not be actively looking for new jobs. The NHS in England has made progress in reducing waiting times for hospital treatment, but still leaves thousands waiting for care.
LinkedIn is a valuable resource for businesses looking to hire professionals, as over 70% of its users don't visit other leading job sites. This means that great candidates like Sandra, who weren't actively looking for a new job, might be missed if businesses only look elsewhere. Additionally, the NHS in England has made significant progress in reducing waiting times for hospital treatment, with over 90% decrease in the number of people waiting more than 18 months since the peak in September 2021. However, it's important to note that this still leaves thousands of people waiting for treatment, and the government's target was to eliminate waiting times over 18 months entirely. In other news, Mint Mobile is cutting its prices in response to inflation, offering unlimited data for $15 a month, a significant decrease from $30. These are just a few of the numbers making news this week on More or Less.
Wait times for healthcare in the UK: A persistent challenge: Despite a decrease in wait times over 18 months, the number of those waiting between 12 and 18 months has surged, leading to an all-time high of 7.3 million on the waiting list. The NHS prioritizes those with the longest waits, leaving others relatively less prioritized.
While the number of people waiting over 18 months for healthcare treatment in the UK has decreased, the number of those waiting between 12 and 18 months has significantly increased. This trend is due to the NHS prioritizing those with the longest wait times, leaving others relatively less prioritized. The total number of people on the waiting list has reached an all-time high of 7,300,000, a near tripling from pre-pandemic levels of around 15%. The historical data shows a steady increase in waiting list numbers since 2007, with a significant surge after the pandemic. The NHS is currently focusing on reducing wait times for those with the most extreme lengths, but until the overall waiting list starts to fall substantially, it will be challenging to eliminate long waits for all.
NHS Waiting List Grows Longer Despite Fewer People Joining: Despite fewer people joining the NHS waiting list due to the pandemic, the list has grown longer due to increased demand and fewer referrals to hospitals. Voter ID implementation in local elections has been controversial, potentially impacting turnout, but the overall effect is still unclear.
The NHS waiting list has grown longer in the last few years despite fewer people joining it due to the pandemic. While demand for healthcare has increased, the number of people joining the list has decreased, leading to a larger waiting list. Reasons for this include deaths from COVID-19, private healthcare, and patients not coming forward for treatment. The number of GP appointments has increased, but the number of referrals to hospitals has decreased, resulting in fewer patients being treated. As long as treatment volumes don't increase significantly, it will be challenging to reduce the overall size of the waiting list. Regarding the local elections, the implementation of voter ID has been controversial, with some arguing it was necessary to prevent fraud and boost confidence in the voting system, while others warned it would prevent some people from voting. Preliminary data suggests that turnout may be slightly down compared to the last election in 2019, but it's unclear if this is directly related to voter ID. Some people were turned away from polling stations due to not having the correct ID, but the overall impact on turnout is still unclear.
Voter ID requirements may deter some voters from casting their ballots: The introduction of voter ID requirements led to approximately 0.2% of voters not returning to vote, but the true number of discouraged voters may be higher due to unrecorded instances outside polling stations.
The introduction of voter ID requirements at polling stations led to approximately 0.2% of voters not returning to cast their ballots. However, this figure may not be a complete representation of the total number of voters who were discouraged from voting due to ID issues. There were also voters who were turned away by greeters outside the polling stations and were not recorded in the statistics. The extent of this hidden group of voters who didn't turn up is uncertain, and it's reasonable to assume that the number of people discouraged from voting is more than 1 in 500. The electoral commission is conducting public opinion polling to gain a better understanding of this issue. Overall, the implementation of voter ID requirements may be deterring some voters from exercising their right to vote.
Impact of voter ID requirements on demographics: Limited data suggests minimal impact on voter turnout, but potential disproportionate effects on certain groups are unclear.
The impact of voter ID requirements on various demographics, such as age, geography, race, and poverty, remains speculative due to a lack of comprehensive data. The 2018 and 2019 pilot studies suggest a minimal impact on voter turnout, but it's unclear if certain groups were disproportionately affected. The absence of census forms filled out by presiding officers complicates efforts to gather accurate data. While it's important to consider the potential implications, it's crucial to approach the discussion with caution due to the limited information available. Looking ahead, the Electoral Commission's full report may provide more insight into these issues. Meanwhile, for businesses seeking to hire top talent, LinkedIn offers a unique advantage by connecting with professionals who aren't actively job searching. Lastly, marriage success rates, as measured by divorce rates, vary significantly across countries, with some, like Portugal and Spain, having much higher rates than others. However, it's essential to approach such statistics with skepticism, as their accuracy and reliability can be questionable.
Divorce Rates: A Complex Issue: The reliability of extreme divorce rate figures is questionable. Crude divorce rates, which relate to population size, provide a more accurate comparison between countries.
The reliability of divorce rates presented in a viral tweet with extreme figures for India (1%) and Portugal (94%) is questionable. The figures may have been calculated by dividing the number of divorces by the number of marriages in a year and multiplying by 100, but this method can result in misleading numbers due to fluctuations in marriage and divorce rates from year to year. A more commonly used method for calculating divorce rates is the crude divorce rate, which is the number of divorces per 1,000 people per year. This method removes the number of marriages from the equation and relates the divorce rate directly to population size. According to this method, Belarus and Russia have the highest divorce rates, and Portugal's rate is actually lower than the European Union average. India may have a low divorce rate, but data collection issues make it difficult to be certain. It's important to approach information about divorce rates with skepticism, considering the challenges in calculating and comparing these rates between countries.
Beyond surface-level statistics: Divorce rates don't determine marriage quality and girls should be encouraged to enjoy math, as highlighted by late mathematician Vicky Neal.
Divorce rates do not necessarily reflect the quality of marriages or the happiness of couples. While some countries may have lower divorce rates due to legal and social factors, it doesn't necessarily mean that their marriages are of higher quality. Additionally, the importance of encouraging girls to explore and enjoy mathematics was highlighted through the story of mathematician Vicky Neal. Vicky, who passed away in May, was a passionate advocate for mathematics and encouraged young people, particularly girls, to engage in challenging math problems. She believed that the joy and satisfaction of solving a math problem was worth the effort, regardless of the final answer. Overall, the discussion emphasized the importance of looking beyond surface-level statistics and recognizing the complexities of social and mathematical issues.
Breaking down complex problems: Approach complex problems by solving related, easier ones for incremental progress and new insights
Mathematicians approach complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, related problems. This strategy, known as incremental progress, allows mathematicians to gain insights, develop new techniques, and make progress towards their ultimate goals. This approach is not only applicable to mathematical research but also to everyday challenges, including homework problems. The story of Vicky Neal, a mathematician who inspired many with her passion for mathematics despite facing a rare cancer, highlights the importance of appreciating and valuing the mathematical sciences. In her memory, it's essential to continue striving for a society that values and understands mathematics. The strategy of tackling complex problems by solving related, easier ones is a powerful tool for making progress and gaining new insights.
Flexible UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans for Different Life Stages: UnitedHealthcare offers flexible plans for job transitions, parent's plan end, side hustle growth, and open enrollment misses.
UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans offer flexibility for various life situations. These plans can be suitable for individuals who find themselves between jobs, transitioning off their parents' plan, or turning a side hustle into a full-time business. Additionally, for those who missed the open enrollment period, UnitedHealthcare provides an opportunity to explore their plans further. Overall, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans offer valuable options for those seeking flexibility and coverage during different stages of life. For more information, visit uhone.com.
