Publications

This report outlines key aspects of the changing skill mix agenda which has been witnessed in recent years, particularly in the public sector, as part of workforce modernisation. The private sector has also been involved in changing the skill mix of its staff, more often through creating a more flexibly skilled workforce.

The majority of UK organisations use some form of teamworking. When it operates effectively, working in groups produces improvements in productivity, quality and customer satisfaction levels, as well as enhanced employee flexibility and commitment. When it goes wrong, efficiency and productivity fall as conflict and rivalry replace group cohesion and co-operation.

This paper looks at literature on customer views of HR and addresses the following questions. Does the HR function know what is wanted by customers and can it be discerned why customer views vary? How does the function measure customer opinion? What techniques seem most successful? Does the HR function evaluate the impact on customers of changes it makes (eg to HR structure, processes, relationships, policies)? Do senior managers perceive HR is meeting organisational needs? What do line managers want from HR, and has it changed? What do employees want from HR, and has this changed? From a customer perspective, what distinguishes a good HR function?

Virtually all organisations have absence management policies in place but absence continues to cost the UK economy many millions of pounds each year. There is some debate about whether the approach to tackling absence should be punitive or well-being focused. This paper investigates the causes of absence and demonstrates how to achieve a successful absence management policy.

During 2005, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales contracted IES to conduct a study to inform higher education institutions and other key policy-makers in Wales about the Welsh graduate labour market. The research also examined the changing nature of graduate jobs and how graduate employability policies might be further developed, and looked at how Welsh experiences compared with other and similar regions.

This study, for the first time, gathers known literature, industry and education data, and interview feedback specifically on the participation of female screenwriters writing for film in the UK. The key focus of the study is to explore the scale of any imbalance and the possible reasons for it.

This report provides an overview of e-recruitment practices and trends in Ireland, to identify what e-recruitment methods are being used and what benefits are being experienced by organisations using these methods. A discussion of likely future developments in the area of e-recruitment is also provided.

This report focuses on the analyses and impact of Learner Support Funds (LSF) in the evolving student support funding environment. It evaluates how effective the funds are in reaching and supporting the target groups and their effect on encouraging participation, retention, achievement and progression. The evaluation included analysis of Learning and Skills Council data, a survey of FE institutions and learners, and case studies.

This paper presents the contribution of IES to the second stage of a research project on disability and employment, supported by the Norwegian Work Research Institute, with funding from the Norwegian Research Council. The research involves a comparison of three contrasting sectors (construction, ICT and health) in Norway, the UK and the Netherlands. This report aims to provide an overview of the UK national public policy initiatives and regulations which affect the participation of disabled people in the labour market.

The report presents the findings of a systematic review of the impact of learning on low-qualified, out-of-work adults. It also discusses the methodology adopted and the process through which relevant literature was identified. This review aimed to contribute to a better understanding of whether training or learning works and leads to positive employment outcomes for those who are out of work and who have no or few previous qualifications.