Commons Sense

House of Commons · Written Ministerial Statement

Labour Market Update

23 July 2024 · Department for Work and Pensions

Proposed by Liz Kendall Lab Leicester West

Employment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

View on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Key points

  • Labour market challenges include long-term sickness exclusion from the workforce and high youth unemployment.
  • The government will publish a White Paper to outline policy reforms aimed at boosting employment rates and job quality.
  • A Labour Market Advisory Board chaired by Professor Paul Gregg will be established to offer expert advice on labour market reforms.

Issue summary

The statement addresses the challenges in the UK labour market, including long-term sickness exclusion from workforce and youth unemployment.

Action requested

The government will publish a White Paper to set out policy reforms aimed at increasing employment rates and improving job quality. A Labour Market Advisory Board chaired by Professor Paul Gregg will be established to provide expert input on these reforms.

Key facts

  • Record numbers of 2.8 million are excluded from the workforce due to long-term sickness.
  • Nearly 1 million young people, or 1 in 8, are not in education, employment, or training.
  • The government aims for an 80% employment rate.
  • A Labour Market Advisory Board will be established chaired by Professor Paul Gregg.
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