Skills policy and the future of work: join us for an online event on 2 December, 2:30-3:00pm
In conversation with Chris Warhurst, the author of a new book, Skills Policy in Britain and the Future Of Work, Tom Bewick, will explain his motivation for writing this study; what he has learnt from a 30-year career as both a policy maker and practitioner in post compulsory education and training; and what specific skills policy does he believe countries should adopt in pursuing new approaches to human capital. Read MoreLink opens in a new window
‘Offers fascinating insights into the persistence of some skills policy issues and the “imprinting” of policy development over many decades. This book demonstrates that escaping the past is exceedingly hard!’ Ewart Keep, Oxford University
‘What Bewick has produced will become a benchmark book for anyone interested in skills policy in Britain and beyond.’ Chris Warhurst, University of Warwick
Please contact Lynne Marston via email to register for the event before 2 December: L.Marston@warwick.ac.uk
Question time: the future of work
Join us for a Question Time-style event to explore the future of work on Wednesday, 05 November, 3.30 - 5.00 pm. Our experts from the Faculty of Social Sciences, including the IER, will answer your questions on all things work: What will be the impact of AI and digitalisation on the future of work? Will that future be one of good and healthy jobs for everyone? And will the future of work deliver greater productivity? We invite you to bring your questions on the future of work and be prepared to ask them, but of course you’re also welcome to join the event to listen only. Our panellists come from a background of employment research, business studies, economics and political theory, and look forward to engaging with your questions. Read MoreLink opens in a new window
IER contributes to global dialogue on greening and transforming TVET
IER was invited to contribute to the "TVET in the Shifting Socio-Economic Paradigm" conference held in Islamabad on 2–3 October. Peter DickinsonLink opens in a new window represented IER on the panel "Greening and Transforming TVET for a More Resilient and Sustainable Economy", where he discussed IER’s research on how the green and digital transitions are shaping the future of jobs and skills.
Exploring colonial legacies in Caribbean labour markets: IER research presented in Barbados
Early findings from the research highlight that some underlying differences in labour market outcomes between men and women in Trinidad and Tobago (such as wages and occupational groups engaged in) can be traced to structures first established in the colonial period. The seminar was hosted by the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill campus, and was live-streamed regionally.
IER researchers publish key insights on vocational education funding
The report examines how VET funding has evolved over the past 25 years—focusing on what and who is eligible for funding, how eligibility is determined, and how funding mechanisms respond to changing skill demands. By comparing coordinated market economies (Austria and Norway) with a liberal market economy (England), the study highlights how different policy regimes shape the responsiveness and equity of VET funding systems.
Hogarth, T., Breines, M. R., Erickson, E., Hefler, G., Lee, S., Nyen, T., Pittrof, T., Steinheimer, E., & Unterweger, D. (2025, August). The funding of VET in Austria, Norway and England (Skills2Capabilities Working Paper). Skills2Capabilities.
What university degrees don't buy
A pioneering study published in Studies in Higher Education provides the first comprehensive examination of multidimensional job quality premiums for university graduates across European labour markets, challenging long-held assumptions about the returns to higher education. Drawing on data from 26 European countries collected between 2005 and 2015, IER’s Dr Link opens in a new windowSangwoo Lee and Cesar Burga Idrogo (University College London) examined six non-monetary job quality dimensions beyond conventional earnings measures.Their analysis reveals that graduate advantages are highly selective rather than universally distributed across all aspects of work. Read MoreLink opens in a new window
The research found that university graduates enjoy substantial premiums in Skills and Discretion (5.99 points on a 100-point scale), representing significantly greater autonomy, task complexity, and skill utilisation. Moderate advantages also appear in Physical Environment (3.64 points) and Prospects (2.64 points), indicating better working conditions and career opportunities. However—and this is the study's most striking finding—graduates experience no significant advantages in Social Environment, Work Intensity, or Working Time Quality.
The study also reveals that educational expansion matters. In countries with higher tertiary attainment rates, graduate premiums diminish significantly in Skills and Discretion and Physical Environment, though other dimensions remain stable. This pattern indicates that mass expansion reshapes, rather than reduces, the value of university credentials.
The findings carry important implications for how we evaluate higher education outcomes and may help explain why objective graduate advantages don't always translate into higher subjective wellbeing—the so-called "paradox of the dissatisfied graduate."
Manufacturing decline and male job losses: IER featured in national spotlight
In a recent feature published by The TelegraphLink opens in a new window(24 October 2025), IER's Dr Link opens in a new windowSangwoo Lee offered expert insight into the structural challenges facing male employment in modern Britain. Commenting on the long-term decline in manufacturing and its disproportionate impact on male workers, Dr Lee noted: “The pandemic amplified these structural shifts, so male-dominated sectors – like construction, transport and manufacturing – face this prolonged disruption. The UK lost approximately 170,000 manufacturing jobs between 2019 and 2021. This represents nearly a 6% decline in the sector in just two years, so it’s more challenging to find a job in the same industry.” Read MoreLink opens in a new window
Dr Lee’s analysis forms part of a broader conversation on the evolving labour market and the urgent need for targeted employment support. His contribution underscores IER’s commitment to informing public debate and policy through rigorous, evidence-based research.
Creating Healthy Jobs project (NIHR): opprtunities for a quantitative researcher
As part of the NIHR - Creating Healthy JobsLink opens in a new window project, led by the IER, the Cardiff University Business School is recruiting a Research Associate. The role will involve the analysis of microdata to explore the relationship between job quality and health in the UK, leading to high quality academic publications and dissemination to inform policy and employer practice. It would ideally suit someone with expertise in health and/or labour economics. Closing date for the application is Monday, 3 November 2025. Further details please are available hereLink opens in a new window.
