The resilience of the labour market at the height of the downturn and its rapid recovery in recent years has been arguably the brightest spot in an otherwise troubling period for the UK economy. But years of rising employment have yet to feed through into productivity gains and real wage growth. The UK labour market is one of puzzling contrasts – skills shortages and downward wage pressures, fears of creeping job casualisation and hopes for a new wave of entrepreneurs. Are today’s trends short-term responses to a changing economy or permanent shifts in our labour market? The Resolution Foundation is launching a major new programme of work to consider what the labour market of the future could look like. This launch event will feature a keynote presentation from John Van Reenen, Director of the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics. Further speakers will be confirmed shortly. The Resolution Foundation will also some share some of its own initial findings at the event.
