IER and Cambridge Econometrics have produced new UK labour market and occupational projections to 2035 as part of the Nuffield funded Skills Imperative 2035 Programme led by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER). These projections, led by Professor Rob WilsonLink opens in a new window, update and extend the Working FuturesLink opens in a new window reports produced just before the Covid-19 pandemic. Among some of the key finding are:
Jobs will increase by 0.5% p.a. during 2025-2035, leading to 2.6 million new jobs by 2035, with most of them going to be taken up by women.
The services sector largely drives job growth to 2035, with jobs in manufacturing continuing to fall. This has significant skills implications for the labour market in 2035.
The highest job increase is projected to be in the health sector followed by the food and beverages sector.
While the greater use of technology in the labour market could lead to up to over two million job losses, projections also suggest this may be ‘broadly offset’ by new job opportunities. Most affected by job losses are likely to be blue collar manual occupations and less skilled white-collar non manual occupations.
Projections indicate that economically active people will be better qualified by 2035.
ReWAGE was set up just over a year ago. During that time its group of 35 senior experts from universities and research organisations from across the UK have worked together to produce consultation responses, policy briefings and evidence papers on a wide range of work and employment issues, spoken at conferences, events and government meetings, and much more. Working in 11 sub groups, ReWAGE has to date published 7 reports, another 7 reports are currently in draft form and 15 reports are planned, with more details provided in this graphic. Thanks to our Expert Group, our Advisory Group and our Steering Group for their support, and to our core sponsors - the Economic and Social Research Council, the Institute for Employment Research at Warwick University and the Centre for Employment Relations, Innovation and Change at Leeds University.
Understanding the Equality Impact of Public Procurement
Public procurement, the purchase of works, goods, and services by public bodies, accounts for a considerable part of public spending. In a new article IER's Dr Eva Katharina SarterLink opens in a new window examines the equality impact of public procurement regulations and practices. Focussing on procurement practices and their regulation, the articleLink opens in a new window examines the way in which cursorily neutral practices relating to wages and working conditions and proactive measures that explicitly aim to promote equality shape the equality impact of public procurement practices.
Quality (and lack) of employment linked to mental health-related disability
A new article was published in the International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health by Rebeka BaloghLink opens in a new window, Sudipa Sarkar, Chris WarhurstLink opens in a new window and colleagues at Interface Demography at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and the Karolinska Institute. The articleLink opens in a new window examines the link between types of employment trajectories and Belgium workers having a subsequent registered disability from mental health. Results suggest a particularly increased risk for the unemployed and for workers in trajectories characterised by lower income, potential spells of unemployment and non-standard/subsidised employment.
