IER Newsletter - Current Issue

IER Newsletter - June 2024

Research Fellow post at IER

The IER is seeking to appoint an outstanding Research Fellow, either an economist/social scientist with an employment/labour market specialism and an interest/skills in data science, or a data scientist with an interest in working in the field of employment/labour markets.This is an opportunity for a researcher who wants to make a difference by getting involved in policy-focused research. You will have a PhD or equivalent relevant research experience in the economic and social sciences. You will have research and publications commensurate with being a Research Fellow and preferably some experience of working with different stakeholders: academic and otherwise.

We welcome applications relevant to any of IER research themes but would particularly welcome applications from researchers with pay or labour market data expertise. Full details of the post are available on The University of Warwick website. The closing date is Tuesday 30 July 2024 at 11.45 pm.

New ReWage report

Professor Chris Warhurst and Dr Emily Erickson presented findings from the building a business case for good jobs report in Belfast at the Labour Relations Agency (LRA). The new paper examines how high-quality jobs can increase innovation and productivity. It found that higher pay motivates workers, alongside other metrics, but after a certain tipping point, more money does not help job satisfaction.Instead, how pay is distributed can continue to motivate workers, with performance-related pay (PRP) schemes such as employee ownership models keeping staff engaged and happier.

The report is supported by a Policy Brief and Case Studies, with further event details available via the LRA website. The study’s findings have been picked up by NI press: Business Eye, News Letter and Irish News.
Erickson, E., Atfield, G., Balogh, R., Harris, J. and Warhurst, C. (2024). Building a business case for good jobs: The links between Good Work and innovation, productivity and employee health/wellbeing. (Evidence Paper)

Research Handbook on Inequalities in Later Life is now out

Professor Philip Taylor's new book, 'Research Handbook on Inequalities in Later Life', is now out. This Research Handbook critically examines the myriad social and economic inequalities faced by those in later life.Contributors dissect Global North and South examples to support a new approach to studying ageing that moves beyond popular discourses.

Earl, C. and Taylor, P. (2024). Research Handbook of Inequalities in Later Life. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham.

Maximising productivity through managing new technology

The Productivity Institute has just published research on the relationship between new technology and productivity. The study involved a literature review, an analysis of provision across the West Midlands, and case studies with 11 West Midlands businesses.
The research concluded that management skills (core and technology-related) are required to maximise the returns of new technology investments. Companies with a strategic approach to technology investments and management development implemented their investments more effectively. Currently, management training in the West Midlands is not configured to support businesses to implement new technology effectively, and companies rely on technology suppliers.

Dickinson, P., Erickson, E. and Warhurst, C. (2024). Maximising productivity through managing new technology: The Productivity Institute.

New publication on digital platform work in developing countries

IER's Dr Jamelia Harris has published a new article titled "Digital Platform Work in Developing Countries: Enabling Capabilities or Perpetuating Dependencies?" in the journal Development. This article focuses on cloud working in developing countries and the implications of this type of work on development.The analysis draws on two eminent development theories—the capabilities approach and the dependency theory. Using these frameworks, opportunities and risks of cloud work to developing countries are presented and analysed, and policy implications are discussed.

Harris, J. (2024) Digital Platform Work in Developing Countries: Enabling Capabilities or Perpetuating Dependencies? Development. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41301-024-00403-9

'Predicting Future Skills Needs' recording is now available

The recording and presentations from the May Webinar are now available on the LMI for All website.

Challenges for careers practitioners in supporting sustainable employment

Professor Chris Warhurst outlined four challenges for career practitioners in supporting sustainable employment at the National Institute for Career Education and Counselling (NICEC) conference in Birmingham on 2 July.
Challenges outlined include: advanced automation, the green industrial revolution, the disconnect between skills supply and demand, and unhealthy jobs.

Creating Sustainable Work conference

Professor Chris Warhurst is a co-organiser of the Interdisciplinary Conference on Creating Sustainable Work, which will be held on 7-9 May 2025 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The organisers are currently inviting suggestions for keynotes, special sessions or streams and abstracts contributing to a discussion on how research can help inform policy to ensure a sustainable future of work.

New IER projects

Find more information on IER's current projects.

Forward

Subscribe to the IER monthly e-newsletter

August-September 2023Link opens in a new window

January-February 2023

November-December 2022

October 2022

August-September 2022

July 2022

June 2022

April-May 2022Link opens in a new window

March 2022Link opens in a new window

February 2022Link opens in a new window

November-December 2021Link opens in a new window

October 2021Link opens in a new window

September 2021Link opens in a new window

Summer 2021

May-June 2021Link opens in a new window

March 2021

February 2021

January 2021

December 2020Link opens in a new window

February 2020Link opens in a new window

January 2020

November-December 2019

October 2019Link opens in a new window

September 2019

July 2019

June 2019

May 2019Link opens in a new window

August-September 2018

November/December 2016