The future workforce and labour supply and the importance of forecasting
IES has a long-established reputation for providing evidence, insight and practical solutions in the field of workforce strategy, planning and development. We help employers make effective, practical and sustainable resourcing decisions to be sure their workforce is ‘fit for purpose’ both now and in the future.
Our expertise lies in helping organisations anticipate future workforce needs, align people strategies with business objectives, and ensure that investment in people is a driver of long-term performance and sustainability.
We help organisations answer key questions including: finding the right number of people at the right time to deliver business goals; identifying the resourcing implications of change; understanding bottlenecks in talent pipelines better; and exploring opportunities to develop more diverse workforces.
Workforce planning
A key strand of IES’s work is in workforce planning, where we help organisations model current and future supply and demand for skills, assess risks, and identify interventions to address potential gaps. This includes supporting large-scale workforce planning in sectors critical to the economy such as health and social care, education and public services, where workforce shortages have direct impacts on service delivery and economic growth. IES applies a mix of data analytics, labour market intelligence and scenario modelling to enable organisations to make better-informed decisions about recruitment, retention, and skills development.
Workforce development
IES also plays a leading role in shaping approaches to workforce development, recognising that sectors and organisations cannot simply hire their way out of skills challenges. Our research and consultancy highlight the importance of investing in training, continuous professional development and career pathways to unlock workforce potential. IES works with professional and sectoral bodies, and employers to identify and shape workforce development action plans that support progression, improve performance and strengthen employee engagement, as well as evaluating the impact of national and sector-wide initiatives on skills outcomes.
Balancing strategy and employee experience
IES bridges the gap between organisational strategy and employee experience. Our work emphasises how effective workforce strategies must balance efficiency and productivity with employee wellbeing. Through evaluation of workforce interventions and innovative practices, we generate evidence on what works in building sustainable talent pipelines, adapting to technological change, and creating workplaces where people can thrive.
Related projects:
Preparing for Brexit through workforce planning
Developing a Workforce plan for an Adult Social Care Directorate in London (non public consultancy)
Developing evidence-based workforce planning tools and models for an industry sector (non public consultancy)
Workforce planning in uncertain times
Understanding the career experiences of civil servants and support to shape career pathways (non public consultancy)
Research to inform workforce planning and career development in legal services
Talent management – learning across sectors
Planning your future workforce strategy
Career development in organisations to navigate changes in work and skills