The coming week is pivotal for the immediate and long-term outlook for the UK jobs.  

Within the space of a few days,  the Chancellor will announce his Pre-Budget Report, the Government will publish its White Paper on employment and the latest Report on Jobs data will be released.  A further development will be the launch of a new Taskforce on youth employment issues.  

Commenting on the significance of the coming week for the UK jobs market, REC Chief Executive Kevin Green says:  

“This is a make or break week for jobs. The Chancellor’s pre-budget report must include measures to help business and job creation and we need the White Paper deliver practical ways forward in terms of enhancing skills and employment opportunities. At the same, there is huge anticipation around the latest Report on Jobs data as we wait to see whether the recent upward trend is continuing and potentially accelerating.”   

With the increasing focus on the number of young people out of work, next week will also see an important development with the launch of a new business-led Taskforce on Youth Employment issues.

The REC Taskforce is chaired by Baroness Prosser, Deputy Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and will bring together a coalition of employers and recruiters in the front line of the UK jobs market. 

 With regards to the Pre-Budget Report, the REC has identified three key priorities for the Chancellor in terms of employment issues: Protect the UK’s flexible labour market, promote employment (in particular youth employment) through the tax system and mitigate the potential impact of expenditure cuts on public sector employment.