Endorsing REC manifesto on UK labour market

The REC released its labour market manifesto today and, as a major supplier of workers in the UK and Ireland, I want to take a moment to endorse the key themes. The policies outlined in the manifesto are a useful addition to the debate around workforce and employment issues.? Creating affordable jobs, which are accessible for the most disadvantaged in our society, will drive GDP and help the country bounce back from its biggest economic crisis since the second world war.

I’m heartened that the REC is championing labour market expert representation across Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).? Given we are at the sharp end of the skills shortage, it makes sense for recruiters to be part of local discussions surrounding the provision of training and identifying those skills gaps. We play a vital role in helping employers identify and create new roles.

Linked to that is the question of the Apprenticeship Levy — there's no question the levy needs reform, and with a skills shortage, now more than ever.? Apprenticeships are an essential part of the country's skills future and can help employers tackle the skills shortage by providing them with an end-to-end training programme. If used properly they can help employers attract and retain top talent. In a talent-scarce market, what better way to build and shape a workforce than to grow your own?? But, currently, significant amounts of the levy are being handed back to the Treasury, unspent, every year.? It would be far better if more money were used to help close the digital skills gap, for instance.

While I agree that temporary, contract and interim roles have a role to play in supporting the economic and social development of the UK — offering those furthest from the labour market confidence to return to work or the skills they need to get into work — I'd like to see the government go further still.? I’d like to see the government start to accept that great work comes in many forms and I want to challenge our country’s leaders to fully adapt to the changes to the world of work that we’ve seen since the pandemic. Demands between the home and workplace have blurred and the government needs to start supporting different ways of working with proper regulated flexibility baked into public sector roles.??

The public sector is a microcosm of the world of work. It employs low earners, working parents, all generations and levels of educated people, highly skilled careerists, business experts and vocational staff — it is a microcosm of the country's labour force.? As such, it is unwise to grant public sector workers less flexibility than workers in the commercial sector.? Not doing so will make hiring more expensive. Until that changes, public services will continue to suffer.? We have to make it worthwhile for candidates to consider public sector jobs. Roles, therefore, need to meet their needs or else offer higher pay incentives — given council debts continue to affect public pay, this appears unlikely.? Without change, vacancies will go unfilled.?

On AI, I agree we need to use it safely and ethically. I am worried, however, that the AI conversation is too focused on regulatory requirements — rather than adoption.? We are falling behind our competitors here.? Our research finds 7 per cent of workers in the UK were offered AI training by their employer last year, compared to 24 per cent in India. When asked about wider training opportunities next year, 14% of workers in the UK said they weren’t interested in any, compared to only 2% in India. If the UK is to compete with global rivals, the trend workers, employers, and government need to set is the adoption of AI — not just its regulation.

Lastly, diversity.? Randstad is already undertaking ethnicity and gender pay gap reporting.? While reporting on ethnicity is not yet legally required by UK organisations, we know it’s an area in which we must improve and believe it is the first step towards achieving our goals of transparency. It's certainly focused our minds on closing the gap; I have no doubt that the REC's proposals, should they be enacted, would further diversify the labour market.

Read the full REC Manifesto here https://bit.ly/3tZm3Pr ?

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