🏆️ This month’s #ResearchoftheMonth goes to @resolutionfoundation.org for their report on what policies can incentivise employers to hire more young people. It looks at whether Government policy has made it too expensive to hire young people. Read: www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

Workplace health support is often weakest where workers may need it most. Access to support is shaped by the size of an employer, the nature of a job and who makes up the workforce. The result is health provision often compounds existing inequalities. Read: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

📖 Where you live can shape whether you find work and what it feels like to be shut out. Young people’s prospects are shaped by the strength of their local economy, the jobs available nearby, transport connections and the support they can access. Read: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Today’s ONS labour market figures may look stable, but beneath the headline data the new Government faces three major challenges: falling real pay in the private sector, fragile household finances and rising youth unemployment. Read our analysis: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

The three key labour market challenges facing the new Government - Lancaster University

While it’s all change in Number 10 Downing Street, today’s labour market figures indicate a stable labour market with headline employment, unemployment and inactivity rates largely unchanged. However,...

lancaster.ac.uk

Comment from @aman93.bsky.social, on the latest labour market figures from the ONS⬇️ “Today’s figures expose the scale of the labour market challenge facing the new Prime Minister, as private sector pay falls in real terms and youth unemployment reaches an 11-year high.” (1/9)

Workers face a renewed cost of living squeeze as rising energy bills, stalling wage growth and a weakening labour market leave households exposed. New analysis finds just 22% of employers plan inflation-beating pay rises in 2026. Read (1/7): www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

How can the UK build mentally healthy workplaces? With 2.8m people out of work due to ill health, employers must move beyond one-off wellbeing initiatives and focus on prevention, job design and support for line managers. Our latest Work & Health Summit blog: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Opinion - Lancaster University

Blogs and Opinion pieces from the Work Foundation; the leading think tank for improving work in the UK.

lancaster.ac.uk

Can the UK keep up momentum on healthier working lives? With 2.8m people economically inactive due to ill health, prevention, good job design and practical support for employers must be at the heart of reform. Read more:

Can the UK keep up momentum on healthier working lives? - Lancaster University

The UK continues to face a significant crisis at the intersection of health and work, with health-related economic inactivity close to 2.8 million people. The Government has accepted the Keep Britain…

lancaster.ac.uk

EVENT: Join us on Tues 14 July at 14.00 to discuss new research into how zero-hour contract workers experience insecurity, flexibility & unpredictability in their working lives, & how different policy choices could shape the future of work for workers: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-limbo-t...

We are pleased to support a new £1.8m @NIHRresearch funded research programme led by Professor Stavroula Leka at @LancasterUni, exploring how healthier psychosocial work environments can promote sustainable work and prevent poor mental health. (1/3)

The UK has known for nearly two decades what needs to change on work and health. So why has delivery fallen short? Five takeaways from Dame Carol Black’s conversation at the Work and Health Summit 2026. Read more: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Improving workplace health is one of the UK’s biggest growth opportunities, says Sir Charlie Mayfield. With nearly 2.8m people economically inactive due to ill health, action from employers, Government and health services is vital. Read more here: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

New research with the Centre for Organisational Health & Well-being at Lancaster University shows that the Government’s Keep Britain Working agenda is under threat, with 6 in 10 employers still seeing elevated levels of health-related exits from work. (1/7)

Comment from our Director, @benrharrison.bsky.social, on the latest labour market figures from the ONS⬇️ “Today’s figures indicate that the labour market remains in a precarious position and requires the Government to double down its efforts to grow the economy. (1/7)

🚨 Nearly 2.8 million people are now out of the labour market due to ill health. So how can we deliver healthy work in uncertain times? On 23 June, we're hosting the Work & Health Summit 2026 to explore how we can support more people to stay in and return to work.

The UK has entered a youth 'jobs drought'. With Lancaster Uni Management School & Liverpool City Council, we've released analysis exploring how local labour markets in places like Morecambe & Liverpool, employer recruitment practices + young people's experiences are impacting NEET rates. (1/8)

This month’s #ResearchoftheMonth goes to the Milburn review into young people and work. It is a comprehensive investigation into the drivers of the rising number of young people (16-24) who are not in education, employment or training (NEETs). (1/5) www.gov.uk/government/p...

Young people and work: interim report

The young people and work report is an independent review of the increase in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET).

gov.uk

Comment from our Head of External Engagement, Jon Fitzmaurice, on the latest NEET figures from the ONS⬇️ “Today’s figures show the number of young people aged 16–24 not in education, employment or training has surpassed a million for the first time in 13 years. (1/7)

This morning, Lord Wolfson (CEO of Next) warned that there has been a "dramatic fall" in the number of entry-level jobs and said employment law changes could make it more difficult to hire. Our Head of Research, @alicepmartin.bsky.social, commented: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

EVENT TODAY: Join us at 14.00 to discuss what the latest ONS figures on inflation and the labour market statistics mean for workers, employers and the economy in 2026. Sign-up: eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...

Work Matters: Can the UK labour market withstand renewed global volatility?

Join the Work Foundation to discuss what the labour market and inflation statistics mean for workers, employers and the economy in 2026.

eventbrite.co.uk

Work Foundation@workfoundation.bsky.social · 3mo ago

EVENT: Join us on Wednesday 20 May to discuss what the latest ONS figures on inflation and the labour market statistics mean for workers, employers and the economy in 2026. Sign-up: eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte... @ageingbetter.bsky.social @benrharrison.bsky.social

Comment from our Director, @benrharrison.bsky.social, on the latest labour market figures from the ONS ⬇️ “Today’s labour market figures underline the importance of Government remaining focussed on the challenges facing young people in accessing sustainable and well-paid work. (1/5)

Today, @aman93.bsky.social (Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Work Foundation at Lancaster University) commented on the latest ONS public opinions data that shows that the cost of living is the biggest issue facing people in the UK: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

EVENT: Join us on Wednesday 20 May to discuss what the latest ONS figures on inflation and the labour market statistics mean for workers, employers and the economy in 2026. Sign-up: eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte... @ageingbetter.bsky.social @benrharrison.bsky.social

Earlier today, our Director @benrharrison.bsky.social responded to UK Government's priorities announced in the King's Speech 2026. Read in full: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Our #ResearchOfTheMonth goes to the @womensbudgetgrp.bsky.social for their research on young women and multiple jobholding. (1/6) www.wbg.org.uk/publication/...

Comment from our Senior Policy Advisor, @asliatay.bsky.social, on the sickness absence 2025 figures from @ONS ⬇️ “Today’s figures suggest sickness absence from the workplace in the UK has stabilised with the average worker taking 4.4 days off in 2025. (1/8)

EVENT: Join us on Wednesday 20 May to discuss what the latest ONS figures on inflation and the labour market statistics mean for workers, employers and the economy in 2026. Sign-up: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matte...

Comment from our Director, @benrharrison.bsky.social, on the latest labour market figures from the ONS⬇️ “Today’s figures indicate many UK workers and jobseekers are poorly placed to withstand renewed global economic instability. (1/3)

As the jobs market has hit the headlines recently, we get a common question. "How can it be true that unemployment and employment are rising at the same time?" Can this be right? @aman93.bsky.social has taken a look at the state of the UK labour market: www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

Last week, the Government tabled the new ‘Right to Try’ work legislation. It is aimed at de-risking pathways to employment for disabled people currently not working. But just how effective will this latest reform be? @benrharrison.bsky.social takes a look. www.lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundat...

The Right to Try is a step forward for disabled people but it won’t succeed in isolation - Lancaster University

This week, the Government brought forward further legislation to support its flagship Get Britain Working White Paper. The new ‘Right to Try’ work is aimed at de-risking pathways to employment for dis...

lancaster.ac.uk