Work Foundation
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workfoundation.bsky.social
Work Foundation
@workfoundation.bsky.social
260 followers 66 following 500 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
Our #ResearchOfTheMonth goes to @learnworkuk.bsky.social for their research exploring the impact of skills training on career progression prospects. (1/5)

learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...

Authors: Sravanthi Vempalli, Lovedeep Vaid, Aaron Revel,
@stephenevans.bsky.social.
Learning and Work Insitute report No train no gain Can the UK boost job mobility and pay growth over the next decade Sranvathi Vempalli, Lovedeep Vaid, Aaron Revel, Stephen Evans November 2025
November 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
After months of speculation, the Chancellor will step up to deliver the Budget Statement tomorrow.

@benrharrison.bsky.social explores the key steps the Chancellor can take to improve working lives and living standards during the remainder of the Parliament: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Autumn Budget 2025 - Work Foundation priorities 1. Fast-track funding for employment support and connect to job creation plans to reduce the risk of long-term unemployment 2. Provide the necessary resources to address health related economic inactivity 3. Resist returning to welfare cuts that would harm jobseekers, workers and undermine long-term growth 4. Resource the employment enforcement system to protect workers’ rights. Logos of Lancaster University and the Work Foundation.
November 25, 2025 at 5:02 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
The latest release from the ONS showed that 946,000 young people aged 16-24 were not in education, employment or training.

Our Principal Analyst, @rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social, commented on the latest stats. See full statement here: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Quote of Rebecca Florisson, Principal Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University “Today’s data shows that the number of young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment, or training remains stubbornly close to one million. "With unemployment across the labour market rising and vacancies having declined over the last 12 months, there is a serious risk more young people will slip into long-term worklessness without further Government intervention." Lancaster University logo Work Foundation logo
November 20, 2025 at 11:11 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
WORK MATTERS: Join us on Wednesday between 14.00-15.00 to discuss what the labour market & inflation statistics mean for the decisions facing the Government at the Autumn Budget feat @duncanweldon.bsky.social, @helenbarnard.bsky.social & Suren Thiru.

Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
14.00 - 15.00 | Wednesday 19 November 2025 | Online A Budget for economic and labour market renewal? As the Autumn Budget approaches, the Chancellor is facing tough choices against a backdrop of continued sluggish growth, a cooling labour market, constrained public finances and a political imperative to deliver the kinds of changes that ensure voters feel better off during this Parliament. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and a panel of experts to review the latest labour market and inflation statistics and discuss how the Chancellor can improve living standards. Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Helen Barnard, Director of Policy, Research and Impact, Trussell Suren Thiru, Economics Director, ICAEW Duncan Weldon, Economist, broadcaster & writer Work Foundation logo
November 17, 2025 at 10:08 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
The latest labour market statistics from the ONS indicate the UK jobs market is losing momentum as unemployment rises to a four year high.

@rebeccaflorisson.bsky.social explores the latest data in this article, including the rise of zero-hour contracts: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Graph showing unemployment at 5.0% in July - Sept 2025 - the highest for four years. Graph showing levels of zero-hour contracts. The current level is 1.2 million, just below the record of 1.22m (April-Jun 2023).
November 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
ONLINE EVENT: Join us next Wednesday between 14.00-15.00 to discuss what the labour market & inflation statistics mean for the decisions facing the Government at the Autumn Budget feat @duncanweldon.bsky.social, @helenbarnard.bsky.social & Suren Thiru.

Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...
WORK MATTERS 2025 14.00 - 15.00 | Wednesday 19 November 2025 | Online A Budget for economic and labour market renewal? As the Autumn Budget approaches, the Chancellor is facing tough choices against a backdrop of continued sluggish growth, a cooling labour market, constrained public finances and a political imperative to deliver the kinds of changes that ensure voters feel better off during this Parliament. Join the Work Foundation at Lancaster University and a panel of experts to review the latest labour market and inflation statistics and discuss how the Chancellor can improve living standards. Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University Helen Barnard, Director of Policy, Research and Impact, Trussell Suren Thiru, Economics Director, ICAEW Duncan Weldon, Economist, broadcaster & writer Work Foundation logo
November 10, 2025 at 11:48 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
But the rise isn’t spread evenly:
📈 Up 3–4pp in the North East, North West & Wales.
📉 Down 1–2pp in London & parts of the South East.
Rural & coastal areas have been hit hardest — while many urban centres have recovered faster. (3/5)
Map of the UK showing change in economic inactivity among working age population 2018-21.
October 31, 2025 at 2:03 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
Since 2020, inactivity among 16–64s has risen from 20.3% to 22.2% — that’s an extra 565,000 people out of the labour market. As of mid-2025, inactivity in the UK remains 0.7 percentage points above pre-pandemic levels — making the UK an outlier amongst major economies. (2/5)
Graph showing change in economic inactivity rate (percentage points) between 2019-24 in selected countries with UK seeing the largest rises.
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
🏆Our #ResearchOfTheMonth goes to @city-redi.bsky.social at @unibirmingham.bsky.social for 'Understanding the UK’s Rise in Economic Inactivity Since 2020'.

It explores the uneven rise, with rural areas & peripheral towns recording largest increases. (1/5)

Read: www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/cen...
October 31, 2025 at 2:02 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
These findings highlight that the Employment Rights Bill has the potential to significantly improve access to secure work in the UK. To fully realise its benefits, we set out a series of recommendations.

Read the full report here (5/5): www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...
Recommendations 1. Ensure the potential of the Employment Rights Bill is maximised and safeguard the core purpose of the reforms in primary and secondary legislation 2. Allow for a smooth transition for employers and workers as the Employment Rights is implemented 3. Guarantee the Employment Rights Bill is appropriately enforced and its impact is monitored.
October 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
The impact of day 1 dismissal rights depends on the length of statutory probation period adopted. If a six-month probation period was implemented, estimates suggest:
> severely insecure work would fall by 1.2 million people - from 6.8 million (21.4%) to 5.6 million (17.7%) (3/5)
Change in levels of job security in 2023 under new proposed day one rights with different probationary periods. Secure work Current (two years): 44.1% / 13.9m One year: 51.7% / 16.2m Six months: 56.7% / 17.8m Three months: 58.7% / 18.4m Low/moderate insecurity Current (two years): 34.6% / 10.9m One year: 29.0% / 9.1m Six months: 25.6% / 8.0m Three months: 24.3% / 7.6m Severe insecurity Current (two years): 21.4% / 6.8m One year: 19.4% / 6.1m Six months: 17.8% / 5.6m Three months: 17.0% / 5.4m Work Foundation and Lancaster University Management School logos
October 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 15, 2025 at 1:31 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 14, 2025 at 11:09 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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)
October 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
🏆 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.
October 3, 2025 at 1:30 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 3, 2025 at 10:17 AM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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.
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM
workfoundation.bsky.social
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
October 2, 2025 at 3:48 PM