The society is taking forward a series of events aimed at examining how employment policy can respond and adapt to new economic and political circumstances in the next Parliament, and the role it should play in contributing to a sustainable economic recovery. 'Future of Employment', will seek to identify lessons from policy development and outcomes over the last decade – and ask how these can be applied given the combination of a much tighter fiscal environment in which the demand and pressure for employment services is going to increase. Participants have included Lord Jim Knight (Former Secretary of State for Employment), Jo Negrini (Divisional Director of Strategy, Economy and Investment, London Borough of Newham), and Deven Ghelani (Senior Researcher, Centre for Social Justice).

This series is by invitation-only and on the record. Podcasts will be posted online following each seminar.

I. Lessons and futures in employment policy: continuity and change?

Wednesday, 30 November 2010. With Lord Jim Knight, David Coats, and Sunder Katwala (Fabian Society). Read the event report and listen to the podcast.

• Which aspects of the post-1997 labour market strategy have been successful? And where are the most important failures?
• Despite the successful introduction of the national minimum wage, why is the labour market still characterised by low pay, low skill, and low productivity jobs? 
• How can key lessons be adapted to a different economic and fiscal environment?

II. Hardest to Reach? Improving access to employment

Wednesday, 9 February 2011. With Stephen Timms MP (Shadow Employment Minister), Jo Negrini (Divisional Director of Strategy, Economy and Investment, London Borough of Newham), Deven Ghelani (Senior Researcher, Centre for Social Justice), Lizzi Holman (Policy & Research Manager, Reed in Partnership). Listen to the podcast.

• Different groups need different support, therefore how far can provisions and policy be tailored to meet the needs of the hardest to reach groups?
• What are the incentives and barriers to effective innovation in welfare to work services for groups with multiple needs?
• How far is there political and public consensus on the goals and the means of welfare to work policy, and how does this affect attitudes towards supporting individuals with challenges to employment?

III. Employment, skills and life chances

• What defines a good job? Did this play too limited a role in a progressive vision for the labour market, and how far can we better link in the skills agenda into this narrative?
• A ‘good job’ has positive impacts on life chances and productivity, but often a ‘good job’ requires a certain skills set. How can we provide services to meet the skills demand of the labour market?
• How should the aims of good jobs, skills and opportunities of progression impact on policy-making and service providers? How can this be resourced?

IV. The labour market and demographic change

• Has employment policy done enough to prepare and adapt to shifting demographics, and an ageing workforce, and what more needs to be done?
• Are more specific responses are required to prevent long-term youth unemployment arising from the recession and recovery?
• How do employment services adapt to the increased role of older workers? Do we need different employment ‘transitions’ between work and retirement?

V. Labour market realities: What does the future hold?

• What are the employment pathways to a high skilled economy? How relevant and realistic are current offers to those in low-skilled work? Has there been too great a gap between the ambition and where we are now – and how can this be bridged?
• How do we get a more dynamic labour market? What is the role of private sector in fostering innovation and development?
• How can relatively low skilled future growth sectors (such as care and services) develop increased productivity, skills and progression, and who can drive this?

This series is kindly supported by: