The Work Foundation

📝Today, we release new longitudinal analysis that shows that insecure work in the UK is a trap for millions not a short-term stop gap (1/8). #NoProgress 🔗lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

Today, @AmanNavani_ (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: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

EVENT: Join us next Wednesday 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-matters… @emmaftaggart

Earlier today, our Director @BRHarrison_ responded to UK Government's priorities announced in the King's Speech 2026. Read in full: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

"The UK Government should build on recent progress, and set out a roadmap for increasing the rate of SSP in order to help increase workforce participation and Keep Britain Working into the future.” (8/8) The full statement is available at: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

“These are important steps forward, but they do not go far enough. The UK still has one of the lowest rates of Statutory Sick Pay in Europe at £123.25, and nearly half of employers in the UK do not go beyond the statutory minimum. (7/8)

Comment from our Senior Policy Advisor, @asliatayy, 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: eventbrite.co.uk/e/work-matters…

"...of rising living costs. “Real wage growth has also slowed to just 0.2%, leaving households vulnerable to further price rises. In the private sector, pay growth stands at only 3.2%, the lowest growth since 2020." Read the full statement (3/3): lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

“Pay growth is at its weakest for more than five years as nominal wage growth fell to 3.6%. This comes as ONS data shows four in ten workers already report cutting back on food and essentials, while many more have reduced spending on non-essential items because... (2/3)

Comment from our Director, @BRHarrison_, on the latest labour market figures from @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? @AmanNavani_ has taken a look at the state of the UK labour market: lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

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? @BRHarrison_ takes a look. lancaster.ac.uk/work-foundatio…

The report underlines the need to reverse declining investment in training and to ensure access to meaningful, high-quality learning that supports progression for workers and their organisations. (5/5) Read: learningandwork.org.uk/training-and-s…

While most employers offer training, the UK has a high volume of short duration training compared to other countries. Those with higher qualifications and those in larger firms are far more likely to benefit, reinforcing existing inequalities. (4/5)

🏆 Our #ResearchOfTheMonth for March 2026 goes to the @LearnWorkUK exploring training& skills needs across key UK growth sectors. It highlights a concerning long-term trend that employer investment in training has fallen by 29% per employee in real terms since 2011. (1/5)