Learning and Work Institute has previously argued for the UK to aim for an 80% employment rate for 16-64 year olds. Doing so is essential given an aging population, and would bring a £23 billion economic prize.
We’ve made substantial progress increasing employment before, but restarting progress will require a decade-long effort to widen employment support, join up work, health and skills, and work with employers on how they recruit and retain people.
This briefing sets out what an 80% employment rate would mean, why it’s important and how to get there. It calls for actions to:
Devolve with an outcome-focused, strategic state
- Extend and integrate help to find work to all who are out of work
- Better integrate public services to meet people’s needs
- Work with employers on job design, recruitment and job retention
2 Tachwedd 2026
From writing off to reaching out? Government plans for young people on health-related benefits
Ahead of the publication of the Milburn Review, L&W’s deputy director Elizabeth Gerard sets out key considerations for the Government.
29 Hydref 2026
Time to make the Youth Guarantee real: A promise and plan for every young person
Ahead of the publication of the Milburn Review, L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans proposes five actions to reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training.
28 Hydref 2026
Responding to Autumn Budget 2026
Learning and Work Institute Chief Executive Stephen Evans responds to the Autumn Budget on 28 October 2026.
20 Hydref 2026
Labour Market Briefing: October 2026
Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 20 October 2026.
20 Hydref 2026
Labour market dashboard
Every month, Learning and Work Institute produces detailed and timely analysis of the latest labour market statistics from ONS. Explore our interactive charts.
20 Hydref 2026
Labour market stats response, October 2026
L&W’s chief executive Stephen Evans responds to the latest labour market data from ONS.
30 Medi 2026
From appetite to opportunity
This report for The St Martin’s Group draws on a survey of more than 1,000 HR decision makers to examine employers’ plans to recruit young people, the routes they expect to use, the barriers they face, and the support they need.
15 Medi 2026
Labour Market Briefing: September 2026
Our analysis of the ONS labour market statistics, released on the morning of 15 September 2026.
15 Medi 2026
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer: Implementation and process evaluation
This report presents findings from L&W’s implementation and process evaluation of year one of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority’s Youth Guarantee Trailblazer.
