The future of jobs is changing and businesses must work with schools to ensure people have the skills they need to thrive, Tatton MP Esther McVey said.
According to a report published by the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which Ms McVey chaired, employers, recruiters and Government need to make urgent changes as the world of world changes by 2025.
The former Employment Minister said there will be “turbulent times” ahead as technology evolves and everyone needs to be realistic about changes that will happen.
She said: “There are a record 32 million people in work, 3 million more than 2010 and unemployment is at the lowest since 1975. The UK has a resilient job market but the world is changing and changes in technologies including artificial intelligence, 3D printing and robotics means people will need very different skill sets and we need to make sure people have those skills.
“We need to manage people’s expectations of the job market and the way people are choosing to work. With the world of work undergoing seismic changes, we need to do more to support people on their journey from school to retirement. In particular, helping individuals develop the skills they need to capitalise on new opportunities must involve greater collaboration between business and schools.”
Entitled The Future of Jobs – creating the best jobs market in the world by 2025, the six month research project said recruiters needed to engage with schools, colleges and universities to provide “real-world” practical advice, as well as being more creative with recruitment and offer flexible working.
The report said Government and business need to find new ways of measuring the success of the UK jobs market, including inclusion, social mobility, pay gaps and productivity. In addition it calls for Government to ensure people of all ages can succeed by making the apprenticeship levy into a broader training levy that benefits all workers.
Ms McVey added: “As a previous Minister for Employment, and a champion of social mobility, I was delighted to chair the Future of jobs commission. We have taken a broad and long-term view of the jobs market encompassing future changes likely to arise due to technology, the speed of change, the make-up of the future workforce, flexible working, and the need to support people on their journey from school to retirement. There will be turbulent times ahead, and we need big game changes in our education system, as well as significant investment in an all-age careers advice service to ensure that the UK labour market remains the envy of the world. There is a need for a rethink and overhaul in career education, not just in understanding what the future jobs market will entail, but also in helping individuals to develop skills to capitalise on opportunities.”