We publish blogs to provide insights from, and stimulate debate about, the latest research and thinking. Any views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Institute as a whole.
Featured
In National Careers Week educational institutions aim to make young people aware of the resources they have available to support them on their career journey. But how clear, accessible and supported are the career paths that UK employers are offering, not just to them, but their whole workforce? Duncan Brown reviews the current state-of-play and suggests some improvements.
Featured
Unemployment is close to a five-year high at 5.2%, as more people are actively looking for work, with the employment rate and economic inactivity rate down slightly on the quarter. Payrolled employment continues to fall, though seemingly at a slower rate. Analysis of the February 2026 Labour Market Statistics by IES Chief Executive, Naomi Clayton.
Claudia Plowden Roberts examines the approaches and strategies of the Paris 2024 Paralymics, how these have improved awareness and perceptions of disability, and potential lessons and benefits for employers and employees.
Kyla Ellis examines current attitudes and political policy in relation to carers and how with the change in government there is an opportunity for improvements, including the role of employers in this process.
Astrid Allen summarises the findings from a two-year action research programme to introduce flexibility into frontline roles and evaluate its impact, on both the individual and the organisation.
Kate Alexander explores what party manifestos tell us about the current direction of travel around employment rights by identifying which policy levers are ‘in’ and which are ‘out’ in 2024.
With just over a week to go before the General Election, Nita Clarke OBE, the Director of the Involvement and Participation Association and Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect trade union, consider the current state of industrial relations in the UK and look ahead to the much-needed reforms of the labour market that any new government will need to address.
IES Director Tony Wilson sets out five priorities for a new approach to employment support, for whoever wins the next election: based on ambitious objectives, clear entitlements, empowering people, a reformed employment (and careers) service, and new ‘labour market partnerships’ to take this forward.
IES Director Tony Wilson considers the government's announcement of a new task force to address skills and labour shortages and calls for a reformed approach to employment services based on open access to support, a different approach to those out of work, coherent engagement and support for employers, and meaningful partnership and alignment across services.
The construction industry is facing skills shortages that are holding back growth. This research for the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) explores attitudes towards awareness of construction careers among potential entrants and those within the industry, and the differences between the two.
In support of Mental Health Awareness Week, Zofia Bajorek looks at the issue of fairness at work and calls for employers to review workplace policies and practices to ensure that positive employee wellbeing is supported and maintained.
Duncan Brown considers the government's recently released gender pay gap data, now in it's sixth year of reporting and based on employers with 250 or more employees, comparing men and women’s average pay across each organisation.
