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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation
@workfoundation.bsky.social
250 followers 66 following 440 posts
The Work Foundation is a leading think tank for improving work in the UK. Part of Lancaster University Management School.
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 9h
ONLINE EVENT: Join us on Tuesday 4 November between 14.00 - 15.00 to explore new research looking at the potential impact of the Employment Rights Bill on levels of insecure work across the country.

Register: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/increasing...
Online event Increasing job security in the UK 14.00 - 15.00 | Tuesday 4 November 2025 | Online Work insecurity has been a persistent feature of the UK labour market for over two decades. The Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill represents a significant opportunity to reduce labour market insecurity in the UK over the coming years – but only if key reforms are delivered in full. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University to explore new research looking at the potential impact of two key reforms in the Bill – the introduction of new day one employment rights and zero-hour contract regulation – on levels of insecure work across the country. Speakers: > Ben Harrison, Work Foundation at Lancaster University > Rebecca Florisson, Work Foundation at Lancaster University > Lord Hendy, Institute of Employment Rights and barrister > Shazia Ejaz, Recruitment and Employment Confederation > Kate Nightingale, Young Women's Trust Work Foundation logo.
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
This morning, @aman93.bsky.social (Research and Policy Analyst) made his media debut on @lbc.co.uk with @fayebarker.bsky.social discussing the latest labour market statistics from Office for National Statistics.⬇️
Image card with quote from Aman Navani (Research & Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University) speaking to LBC News on the labour market: "Business confidence is low, and I think we see that in the vacancies figures. The tax speculation doesn't help and I think there'll be a lot of talk about increasing the Chancellor's fiscal headroom, which is important. But the priority has to be raising living standards. "We saw today that nominal wage growth slowed to 4.7% and real earnings were up only 0.6%. And we've had nearly two decades now of lost growth and living standards. So the priority has to be growing the economy and making work pay. Logos of Work Foundation and Lancaster University
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
“Against this backdrop, the Chancellor faces a series of difficult choices in her forthcoming Budget statement. While the focus will be on fiscal headroom, the Chancellor must continue to prioritise boosting living standards and job opportunities in the years ahead.” (8/8)
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
"and in particular surging food prices, has left one in six workers (17%) reporting they struggle to pay their bills each month. (7/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
“Real pay growth appears to be on borrowed time and has fallen to 0.6%, the lowest level in two years, as inflation continues to erode the impacts of wage rises. Despite historically strong wage growth at 4.7%, persistently high inflation... (6/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
“Ministers must learn from previous attempts to tackle long-term youth unemployment and ensure they support – not sanction – young people into real, paid opportunities and give participants agency to make decisions that benefit their future careers and health. (5/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
"Over one in ten young people aged 18-24 year old (12%) are unemployed, with 112,000 stuck long-term unemployed for more than 12 months. This has risen by five percentage points on the year and provides a major concern for policymakers. (4/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
"and continues to creep upwards, now sitting at 4.8%. Meanwhile the number of job vacancies has fallen for the 39th consecutive period compared with the previous three months.

“The job market continues to be very challenging for younger workers. (3/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
“After a bruising first half of the year for the labour market, the competition to get into work continues to intensify, with more people now looking for work at a time when job openings are falling. Unemployment has risen by 297,000 on the year... (2/8)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 1d
Comment from our Director @benrharrison.bsky.social on the latest release from the ONS⬇️
“Today’s figures present serious challenges for Ministers hoping to ‘Get Britain Working’ and ‘Make Work Pay’ for workers across the UK. (1/8)
www.ons.gov.uk/employmentan...
Labour market overview, UK - Office for National Statistics
Estimates of employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and other employment-related statistics for the UK.
www.ons.gov.uk
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 7d
3. Some attendees were concerned that business confidence is currently low, and vacancies are declining, and higher costs could disincentivise employers to recruit young people in the future. (3/3)
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 7d
Key discussion points included:
1. Participants recognised the range of challenges facing young people starting their working lives
2. There was a consensus that there is strong evidence about what works to support a young person into sustained employment. (2/3)
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 7d
On Monday, we hosted a roundtable on overcoming youth health & employment challenges at the #ConservativePartyConference.

It was hosted by Rt Hon Alistair Burt (Lancaster University) & focussed on how to create pathways into work for young people. (1/3)
Participants at a roundtable on youth employment and health challenges at the Conservative Party Conference hosted by the Work Foundation and Lancaster University.
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
This research complements our analysis that shows the health risks of insecure work, with insecure workers 1.4 times more likely than those with secure jobs to become unemployed or economically inactive due to ill-health during the study period (5/5): www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
The authors argue that pushing the long-term sick into ‘any’ job risks backfiring, as poor job design and lack of adaptations in frontline sectors are both a driver of and a barrier to tackling economic inactivity. (4/5)
Image of a black woman taking a pill
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
Findings
> 2.5% of formerly long-term sick inactive workers move into work each year
> 56.6% of those inactive long-term sick workers who enter low-paid, physically tough jobs
> Half of inactive long-term sick workers who enter work, the work lasts for less than 4 months (3/5)
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
The research highlighted broader workforce trends such as reduced autonomy (lower levels of control in how workers do their job), inequality of access to hybrid working, and low-quality work (insecure, long hours, stressful) in ‘frontline’ jobs. (2/5)
The jobs most available are physical roles - often with long hours, inflexible shifts and travel requirements.
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
🏆 Our #ResearchOfTheMonth goes to @timewise.bsky.social for their research paper 'Healthy By Design?' which shows that just 60,000 of the 2.4 million people economically inactive due to long-term ill health find a job each year. (1/5)

Read here: timewise.co.uk/article/why-...
Front cover of Timewise report, Health by design? Why better jobs for all should be a goal for UK Industrial Policy.
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 12d
Comment from our Head of Research, @alicepmartin.bsky.social, on figures from the Office for National Statistics on the impact of motherhood on monthly employee earnings and employment status.

The full statement is available at: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Alice Martin, Head of Research, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Impact of motherhood on earnings “Today’s figures present the stark and unfair reality for working mothers in the UK. “New data shows that five years after their first child, women’s monthly earnings are down by 42% (£1,051 per month), with average losses across the five years amounting to £65,000. “Addressing the motherhood penalty requires bringing parental leave policies into the twenty first century, ensuring both mothers and fathers get ample paid time off when they become parents – we should properly accommodate parenthood alongside work, not in spite of it." Lancaster University logo Work Foundation logo
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
And finally, we ended with a roundtable on ensuring that no young person is left behind as policy-makers aim to overcome youth health and employment challenges. A key theme was changing the culture of work for young people and ensuring they have access to secure work. (6/6)
Participants speaking at roundtable on young people's health and employment challenges at Labour Party Conference 2025. Participants speaking at roundtable on young people's health and employment challenges at Labour Party Conference 2025. Participants speaking at roundtable on young people's health and employment challenges at Labour Party Conference 2025.
workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
On Thursday, we started with a roundtable on how the Government can raise living standards in coastal communities with Edge Hill University. Participants discussed building on the huge potential of coastal places and reframing the negative image of seaside areas. (5/6)
Participants at Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable speaking about coastal communities and living standards. Participants at Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable speaking about coastal communities and living standards. Participants at Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable speaking about coastal communities and living standards.
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
We then discussed how to accelerate AI adoption in SMEs with Prof James Faulconbridge & Prof Martin Spring from
Lancaster University Management School and Minister for Small Business, @blairmcdougall.com. A key takeaway was investing in new tech requires businesses to ask the right questions. (4/6)
Participants speaking at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable on AI and SMEs Participants speaking at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable on AI and SMEs Participants speaking at the Work Foundation at Lancaster University roundtable on AI and SMEs
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
Then we hosted a roundtable on closing the disability employment gap with Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Disability. We discussed how connecting disabled people to good quality employment is key - including access to job features such as remote/hybrid work. (3/6)
Image of participants discussing Right to Try at the Labour Party Conference. Sir Stephen Timms, Minister for Disability, discussing at roundtable Image of participants discussing Right to Try at the Labour Party Conference.
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
On Monday, we hosted a roundtable on maximising the impact of the Employment Rights Bill with the Minister for Employment Rights, @katedeardenmp.bsky.social. We discussed the importance of delivering the core purpose and reforms in the Bill and working with employers to mitigate key concerns. (2/6)
Image of Kate Dearden MP speaking Image of participants at roundtable on maximising the opportunities for the Employment Rights Bill
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Work Foundation @workfoundation.bsky.social · 13d
We have been at #LabourPartyConference #Lab25 hosting roundtables with Lancaster Uni and chaired by @benrharrison.bsky.social discussing the Employment Rights Bill, disability employment gap, AI and SMEs, living standards in coastal communities and youth employment.

Here are some highlights: (1/6)
Photo of a Work Foundation and Lancaster University banner
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