EVENT: The post-pandemic labour market: How do we create more and better jobs?

The labour market that emerges from the crisis will be very different from before the pandemic struck. The high street has been gutted by successive lockdowns and the acceleration of online retail sales. Other consumer behaviours and preferences may well be changed permanently as people have grown used to doing without their daily barista coffee or salon haircut, or – more importantly – as households feel the pinch of lower wages, shorter hours or redundancy and can no longer afford to do so. The government has done its best to incentivise job retention over the last twelve months, but a real risk remains of a spike in joblessness once furlough ends. The Office for Budget Responsibility anticipates unemployment could hit 6.5% this year and while a large economic bounce back is expected as the vaccines take hold, the economy is likely be scarred by the impact of coronavirus for years to come. This will intensify pre-existing regional inequalities, making the task of levelling up all the harder and all the more critical.The government has remained outwardly committed to levelling up as the cornerstone of its domestic policy agenda. But the recent Budget was still largely focussed on emergency support to tie the UK economy and workforce into the autumn. Soon we will need a detailed and actionable plan for jobs which seeks to respond to the challenges and opportunities ahead, boost the demand for good jobs and increase the supply of qualified people through the skills system. All while work itself is changing, not least through an expected permanent increase in remote working and the impact this will have on the nature and distribution of jobs – both those that can be done at home, and those for whom an office, factory and other fixed work settings remain compulsory or essential.The event will consider key questions including: How can we build on the government’s current Plan for Jobs and Plan for Growth to deliver the good jobs of the future? How should we prioritise different industries as the engines of job creation? To what extent will green growth or other emerging sectors offer opportunities in this context? How do we avoid the rise of insecure work and underemployment similar to that experienced after 2008? How can we revamp the skills system to support those who have been out of work and need reskilling into new good jobs? What can local government do to drive forward good jobs in their area?PanellistsDiane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy, University of CambridgeAnna Thomas, co-founder and Director, Institute for the Future of WorkMartin Vander Weyer, Business Editor of the SpectatorCharlotte Alldritt, Director, Centre for Progressive Policy (Chair) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Om Podcasten

We work with local, national and international partners to build a fairer society in which everyone can contribute to and benefit from economic growthAs inequality worsens and the capacity of communities around the world to shake off economic challenges is depleted, the case for switching to a new ‘inclusive growth’ model is intensifying. For the last decade stagnant real wages have squeezed living standards, wealth has become increasingly concentrated and having a job has been no guarantee of stable, secure or sufficient income. The economy is no longer producing the quality of jobs people need to support their families and opportunities vary depending on where people live and what their background is. This needs to change.The Centre for Progressive Policy comes up with new policy ideas to tackle the root causes of inequality, harnessing the best of central and local government to help build a fairer, more productive economy.At the heart of our work is a belief that inclusive growth can allow individuals, families and communities across the UK to contribute and benefit from shared prosperity. For this to happen people need access to good jobs and a supportive social infrastructure, including health, skills training and childcare. Economic policy must reflect this and recognise inclusive growth as a driver of productivity, nationally and locally.CPP empowers local leaders, providing insights and co-designing policy ideas to help them deliver change on the ground. Our Inclusive Growth Network, for example, includes 12 councils across the UK, from Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow, to Liverpool, Manchester and London, developing and piloting new ideas in their communities­­ to drive forward the inclusive growth agenda in the UK and internationally.We also work with central government to inform and shape policy and debate, and to drive forward strategies for inclusive growth strategy at a national level. As part of our work across the political spectrum and with central government, we are research partner to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Inclusive Growth. Finally, we engage with international institutions and organisations to advocate for change, exchange ideas and identify best practice.The Centre for Progressive Policy is independent and impartial. We are not aligned with any political party and are a not-for profit organisation. We are funded by Lord David Sainsbury, who also chair’s our advisory panel as part of his work on public policy. The CPP Director and staff retain full control of the scope, content, conclusions and recommendations of CPP's work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.