The following day, the Chancellor used his autumn statement to announce he was going to get more universal credit claimants working more hours as part of a drive to fill the record high number of vacancies by creating an in-work conditionality for the benefit.
It was not a policy suggested at the committee hearing by any of the experts there.
While this level of vacancies is definitely a problem for an economy trying to find its way back to growth - it remains to be seen whether the Chancellor’s approach is a solution.
As many commentators have since pointed out, working more hours is often not an option for households receiving benefits. This is especially true in cases where universal credit is topping up low part-time wages and enabling claimants to carry out caring responsibilities for their family.
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