Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets

Business and Trade Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 27 May 2022 Closed: 11 Sep 2023 Parliament page
The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Committee is launching an inquiry into the UK Labour Market. This next strand of the Committee’s overarching Post-Pandemic Economic Growth inquiry, launched in June 2020, will also build on the work of the Committee’s major inquiry into the impact of coronavirus on businesses … Read more
23 Recommendations
18 Conclusions
1 Report
5 Oral sessions
3 Letters
5 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
20 Jul
2023
Report published
21 Apr
2023
Report published
18 Apr
2023
Correspondence
18 Apr
2023
Correspondence
21 Feb
2023
Oral evidence
21 Feb
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
10 Jan
2023
Oral evidence
10 Jan
2023
Correspondence
10 Jan
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
29 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
29 Nov
2022
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 8, Palace of Westminster
15 Nov
2022
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 5 sessions
21 Feb 2023
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Kevin Hollinrake MP · Department for Business and Trade Lucy Standing · Bravestarts Mike Warren · Department for Business and Trade Tim Balcon · Construction Industry Training Board Tony Wilson · Institute for Employment Studies
10 Jan 2023
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Joeli Brearley · Pregnant Then Screwed Kate Dearden · Community Trade Union Lizzie Penny · Workstyle Revolution Philippa Childs · Prospect Union Professor Keith Ewing · Institute of Employment Rights Sarah Douglas · Liminal Space
29 Nov 2022
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Hannah Reed · Unite Union Jennifer Sole · Employment Lawyers Association (ELA) Margaret Beels · Department for Business and Trade Ms Alexandra Hall-Chen · Institute of Directors
15 Nov 2022
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Andrew Pakes · Prospect Union Anna Thomas · Institute for the Future of Work Brian Palmer · Amazon Carly Kind · Ada Lovelace Institute Charlotte Holloway · Zoom Laurence Turner · GMB Neil Ross · techUK Tania Bowers · Association of Professional Staffing Companies (APSCO)
19 Jul 2022
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David Fry · Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy Frances O'Grady · Trade Union Congress (TUC) Jane Gratton · British Chambers of Commerce Matthew Percival · Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Mike Keoghan · Office for National Statistics Ms Claire Tunley · Financial Services Skills Commission Neil Carberry · Recruitment and Employment Confederation Stephen Phipson CBE · Make UK
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic economic growth: UK labour markets HC 306 21 Apr 2023 41 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
10 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Bring forward a new data poverty and digital skills strategy for worker support.
It has yet to be seen what effect the Science and Technology Framework recently announced by the Government will have on digital skills development. We call on the Government to bring forward a new data poverty and digital skills strategy … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to delivering the Lifelong Loan Entitlement (LLE) from academic year 2025/26, providing individuals with a loan entitlement for post-18 education. This will include phased modular funding initially targeting Higher Technical Qualifications and other technical qualifications at levels 4 and 5, with an intention to expand to Level 6 modules from 2027, to support digital skills development.
Department for Business and Trade
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18 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Reconsider need for Employment Bill to create new flexible work constructions with appropriate worker rights.
We conclude that the outdated legal construction of work—namely full or part-time work—is preventing many people who wish to be economically active from being so. For many workers who do work more flexibly, or on a freelance basis, they are … Read more
Government Response
The government agrees on the importance of flexible work and points to advice published by its Flexible Working Taskforce in December 2021 on good practice, but does not commit to reconsidering an Employment Bill or creating new legal constructions of work.
Department for Business and Trade
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21 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Commission an investigation into the health and safety implications of night-time working for workers
We believe that the Government should take more of a lead in providing protection for workers from any damaging effects from night-time working. As a first step, we recommend that the Government should commission an investigation into the health and … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the potential impacts of night-time and shift work and notes that HSE provides guidance, but has no current plans to commission a specific investigation.
Department for Business and Trade
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24 Conclusion Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Labour market rule enforcement deemed inadequate due to under-resourcing and lack of priority
We conclude that enforcement of labour market rules is wholly inadequate—not because enforcers or regulators are not performing, but because they are under- resourced and not given the priority they deserve for legislative reform.
Government Response
The government acknowledges the importance of effective dispute resolution and details specific measures taken to address Employment Tribunal backlogs and capacity, including recruiting new judges and caseworkers, deploying virtual platforms, and making operational changes.
Department for Business and Trade
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33 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Urge more employers to specify flexible working suitability in all job vacancy advertisements.
We welcome the Government’s support for the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, we reiterate what we have said earlier in this report that a right to request flexible working is a right to decline. We urge more employers to specify, … Read more
Government Response
The government response details existing and planned programmes like Returnerships, accelerated apprenticeships, and Skills Bootcamps aimed at supporting adults over 50 re-entering the workforce, and highlights the role of the National Careers Service. It does not address the specific recommendation to urge employers to specify flexible working in job advertisements.
Department for Business and Trade
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35 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Conduct a review into jobcentre reform and alternative employment services for over-50s workers.
We recommend that the Government conducts a review into the future reform of jobcentres and to assess whether a public employment service offers better solutions in alternative settings (as well as online) that will improve the accessibility and quality of … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is promoting returnerships pathways (SWAPs, skills bootcamps, apprenticeships) for the over 50s through Jobcentre Plus and Work Coaches, and will monitor uptake. It does not commit to conducting a review into the future reform of jobcentres or alternative settings for employment advice.
Department for Business and Trade
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36 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Consider a dedicated national jobs service resource to support older people finding employment opportunities.
It is clear that to succeed in retaining or re-integrating people aged over 50 in the workforce, there needs to be a better understanding of what that age cohort wants from work. We recommend that the Government considers a dedicated … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is updating its labour market evidence base and exploring online service delivery, while also highlighting its existing '50PLUS Choices' offer, Business Champion for Older Workers, and Menopause Employment Champion that already provide support for older workers.
Department for Business and Trade
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38 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Mid-life MOT expansion welcomed, stressing importance of financial and health reality checks.
We welcome the expansion of the mid-life MOT. We agree that it is important that people in their 40s and 50s should get a reality check on their finances and health to help them make better-informed decisions about their next … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights the success of Automatic Enrolment in increasing pension saving, including for young people, and states its ambition to expand the framework for 18-21-year-olds through legislative support for a Private Members' Bill, rather than creating a new 'mid-life MOT' style scheme.
Department for Business and Trade
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39 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Effective returnerships for older workers require tailored training, incentives, transparency and flexible working.
If returnerships are to attract older workers and to be effective in bringing them back into the workforce, they will need to offer a decent package of training. They will need to value and recognise the skills that older workers … Read more
Government Response
The government states that returnerships, comprising apprenticeships, skills bootcamps, and sector-based work academies, already offer flexible, accelerated, and sector-based training options. It also highlights the National Careers Service for career support, describing how existing provisions align with some recommended effectiveness criteria.
Department for Business and Trade
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40 Recommendation Accepted
Tenth Report - Post-pandemic econo…
Offer returnerships across all Government departments and the wider public sector.
We recommend that Government departments, and the wider public sector, lead from the front on the returnership initiative. Offering returnerships in the Civil Service, in the NHS and in education, for example, will give the private sector confidence that it … Read more
Government Response
The government highlights that apprenticeships and Skills Bootcamps already support older workers in the public sector, noting year-on-year increases in apprenticeships and ongoing work with employers to utilise these training options, without committing to a new initiative explicitly called 'returnerships' for public sector leadership.
Department for Business and Trade
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Government Response AI assessment · 41 of 23 classified
Accepted 10
Acknowledged 5
Deferred 22
Not Addressed 1
Rejected 3
Total 23 recs + 18 conclusions
Correspondence 3 letters
18 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to Amazon relating to AI technology in the workplace, 24 March 2023
Parliament page
18 Apr 2023 To committee Letter from Amazon to the Chair relating to AI technology in the workplace, 17 April 2023
Parliament page
10 Jan 2023 To committee Letter from BEIS Chair to Amazon on AI in the workplace, 10 January 2023
Parliament page