IER Newsletter - Current Issue

IER Newsletter - May 2026

Sharing research intelligence for policy development

In May, IER held two away days: one with the Department for Business & Trade’s Labour Market Analysis team, the other with Acas’ research team. The context was the publishing of their new research priorities and 2025-2030 strategy, respectively.

Various IER staff presented relevant IER research linked to the priorities and strategy, for example, on good work, regulating employment and the handling of workplace conflict. The IER staff also highlighted current gaps in the evidence base that need addressing to help improve policy development.

Further information on IER research projects can be found at: Research Themes OverviewLink opens in a new window.

New publication: Job quality and worker health in hospitality

IER's Dr Sangwoo LeeLink opens in a new window and Prof Chris WarhurstLink opens in a new window, alongside Prof Angela Knox Link opens in a new window(University of Sydney) and Sally Wright (University of Sheffield), have published a new article in the International Journal of Hospitality Management. "Understanding the relationship between job quality and general health in hospitality: Evidence from AustraliaLink opens in a new window" draws on survey data from 427 Australian hospitality workers to examine how six dimensions of job quality relate to workers' self-rated general health, and whether these relationships vary by gender. Read MoreLink opens in a new window

The study applies a multidimensional framework integrating both objective and subjective indicators, building on the standard measure now used for official job quality reporting in the UK and recently championed for EU adoption. Terms of Employment and Voice and Representation emerge as the two strongest predictors of general health, closely rivalling one another and both outstripping Pay and Benefits. The prominence of workplace voice as a health determinant is particularly striking given that union representation in Australian hospitality stands at just 1.6 per cent, and challenges the sector's conventional focus on pay and insecurity as the primary drivers of poor worker wellbeing.

The study also reveals a significant gender health gap that persists after controlling for all job quality dimensions. Contrasting patterns within the Intrinsic Characteristics of the Work dimension — male advantage in job autonomy and task complexity, female advantage in social support — suggest that the gap reflects specific, divergent features of how work is experienced rather than overall differences in job quality. The findings point to the need for structural, job-level interventions, for instance, stronger workplace representation, reduced employment insecurity, expanded training and progression, and improved pay, alongside gender-sensitive measures targeting autonomy for female workers and social support for male workers. The article is available hereLink opens in a new window

Knox, A., Lee, S., Warhurst, C., & Wright, S. (2026). Understanding the relationship between job quality and general health in hospitality: Evidence from Australia. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 137, Article 104690.

New technology in agriculture: IER research features on Edge's latest skills bulletin

Research undertaken by IER's Peter Dickinson with colleagues in the University of Warwick's School of Life Sciences, and funded by The Institute for Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH), features in a special land-based skills bulletin published by the Edge Foundation. Read MoreLink opens in a new window

The bulletin summarises the report's findings into the impact of new technology on jobs and skills in agriculture and horticulture, and what responses are required.

IER publication spotlight: The reality of financial aid in Britain’s private schools

IER's Dr Sangwoo LeeLink opens in a new window, along with co-authors Francis Green, Golo Henseke, and Anna Yong, has published a new paper in the British Journal of Sociology of Education titled "Diluting Exclusivity? The Prevalence and Distribution of Bursaries and Scholarships for Britain's Private Schools." The study provides a timely historical and statistical analysis of financial assistance within Britain’s independent school sector. While these grants are frequently claimed by some parliamentarians to mitigate social exclusivity, the research reveals that only 3% of private school income actually goes toward funding them. Read MoreLink opens in a new window

Furthermore, the authors find that while these grants have become more common over time, their individual value has steadily decreased relative to rising fees. Ultimately, the paper concludes that current bursary structures are highly unlikely to bring forth a significant reform of the sharp class divide characterising Britain’s school system. The full open-access paper is available hereLink opens in a new window.

Lee, S., Green, F., Henseke, G., & Yong, A. (2026). Diluting exclusivity? The prevalence and distribution of bursaries and scholarships for Britain's private schools. British Journal of Sociology of Education.

Dr Erickson’s evidence to the youth employment inquiry

We were delighted that IER’s Dr Emily EricksonLink opens in a new window was invited to give evidence to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee on 20 May, contributing to an international panel of experts. Chaired by Debbie Abrahams MP, the committee’s inquiry ‘Youth employment, education and training’ aligns with the Government’s focus on youth employment. Read MoreLink opens in a new window

They were keen to understand how the UK compares to other nations and what solutions can be shared. Emily highlighted findings from two international projects on apprenticeships (Skills2CapabilitiesLink opens in a new window and a Matched Plant study) as well as work to develop a shared vision for a high-quality vocational education and training (VET) system for England by 2050 (VET2050Link opens in a new window).

The Government commissioned the Milburn reviewLink opens in a new window into young people and work has just been reported, while the select committee report is due shortly. We will continue to engage as this agenda develops.

Colonial legacies shaping business ownership

IER's Dr Jamelia HarrisLink opens in a new window and her collaborator, Dr Dexnell Peters of the University of the West Indies, participated in the 6th Biennial Richard Robinson Business History Workshop at Portland State University. The interdisciplinary workshop fosters in-depth scholarly exchange by bringing together researchers to critically engage with emerging questions, methodologies, and historiographical debates. Read MoreLink opens in a new window

Dr Harris and Dr Peters presented a paper which traces the contemporary organisation of business ownership to the colonial period. The paper explores how the definition of 'business' changes over time, and distinguishes between businesses that employ and those established as own-account workers only in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The paper argues that legacies embedded in legislation, institutions and culture since 1800 still shape who becomes a business owner, and to some extent, the sectors in which they operate. The paper is based on research from the project 'Colonial legacies and the labour market in the English-speaking Caribbean'.

Other publications

McGuinness, S., Staffa, E., Lee, S., Kelly, L., & Redmond, P. (2026). Measuring potential skill shortages in Europe. In K. Pouliakas & G. Santangelo (Eds.), Human-centred digital transitions and skill mismatches in European workplaces (Cedefop working paper series, No. 28, pp. 104–122). Publications Office of the European Union. http://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2801/9894877Link opens in a new window

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