Secretary of State Talks Jobs and Progression at REC HQ - Here’s Some Next Steps

Following Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd's speech at our offices last week, we have been taking forward  practical suggestions on how the UK recruitment sector can support the government’s plans around good work, progression and the future of jobs. Our aim is to harness the expertise and drive of the UK’s £35.7 billion recruitment industry and to showcase the contribution that recruitment professionals already make in these areas on a daily basis.

• Delivering job-switching support – during her speech at REC HQ, the Secretary of State argued that “changing jobs is often the best way to open up new opportunities”. We agree with that! And specialist recruiters operating across all sectors of the economy are uniquely placed to help people make good decisions about job-switching.  Driving local-level collaboration between REC members and Jobcentres through the REC/DWP Partnership Agreement is an immediate way forward on this.

• Pre-empting jobs of the future  - we welcomed the Secretary of State’s assessment that automation will impact on the labour market but that there are huge opportunities linked to jobs that need human sensibilities, judgement and creativity. Specialist recruiters are geared up to help people take advantage of these new opportunities and we will continue to use our data and Future of Jobs White Papers to pre-empt evolving skills needs. Let’s take a lead on the future of jobs!

• Driving the good work agenda - it was good to hear the Secretary of State explicitly recognise the importance of “good quality flexible work”. Our message on this is clear: flexibility and good work go hand in hand! We are committed to working with government to promote awareness and compliance, and to ensure that our jobs market provides two-way flexibility. We will also continue to promote the benefits of flexible working options through Good Recruitment Campaign which brings together 440 leading employers, covering over 3 million employees. 

• Finding new ways to boost progression - we are working with government to explore new policy solutions to emerging labour market challenges, including the need to enhance progression opportunities for all. Evolving the Apprenticeship Levy into a broader skills levy that boosts development opportunities for all workers – including those on temporary contracts – is one example of this.

The UK recruitment sector places over a million people into permanent jobs each year and ensures that a further million are working flexibly through temporary assignments on any given day. We want to harness this contribution to drive social innovation and make the UK a genuine ‘progression nation’. Last week’s speech by the Secretary of State was recognition for our industry’s role in making change happen and for the REC’s growing voice on employment and jobs.