Measuring ‘good Work’ – Recruiters Can Make Change Happen

With the world of work evolving at pace, we need new ways of measuring job quality. This was a core message of the REC’s Future of jobs commission and is at the heart of a high profile report launched this month by the Carnegie Trust. Re-evaluating the way we measure the success of the UK jobs market also provides a real opportunity to showcase the pivotal role of recruitment and employment professionals.

Our role in driving the good work agenda

Speaking at the launch of the Carnegie Trust’s ‘Measuring Job Quality’ report, Mathew Taylor, RSA CEO and author of the government-commissioned Taylor Review argued that "quality and quantity of work can and do go hand in hand; both are necessary for a thriving economy and society". So what does ‘good work’ look like? Taylor defined it as: ‘work that is fair and decent, with realistic scope for development and fulfilment’. On all of these measures, recruitment professionals can make a positive impact; we need to be proactive in explaining how.

Our industry is predicated on helping find a job, then find a better job. Good work is also about how a job makes people feel. Doing the right thing in terms of compliance and worker rights is part of this; as is the ability to match the right people to the right job in the first place. Agencies also provide a crucial outlet for individuals; examples include providing Employee Assistance Programmes for temporary staff or taking forward issues raised by workers with end-users.

Measuring change across regions and sectors

Any quality of work metrics must be authoritative, robust but also easy to understand. It is also about being clear on the wider benefits with Kate Bell, Head of Economic and Social Affairs at the TUC arguing at the Carnegie Trust event that “quality of work is not only important for individuals, it is also key to boosting productivity".

Driving ‘good work’ in specific industries will also help attract people into sectors such as hospitality, logistics and care which face major staffing challenges. We will feed into sectoral initiatives through specialist REC sector groups. Similarly, REC regional directors will ensure that the industry’s voice is at the forefront of regional ‘good work’ initiatives. Looking at the longer term, recruitment professionals can become ‘future of jobs ambassadors’ by spreading the good recruitment message and helping future generations navigate the changing world of work.

What’s next?

Douglas White, the Carnegie Trust’s Head of Advocacy, underlined the need to “engage with key stakeholders to move from recommendations into practical implementation". We will ensure that the recruitment industry is at the front of the queue! Feeding into hugely topical debates around good work and job quality measurement are a great example of the recruitment and employment sector driving social innovation and helping to build one of the most inclusive and dynamic jobs market in the world.