This book discusses [the challenges of Brexit and the wider challenges and opportunities facing the UK's labour market] and how business and policy makers might rise to the challenges they pose. The first chapter explains why our labour market may have reached a tipping point, with an increase in the relative cost of low-wage labour and a fall in supply as migration levels reduce. Chapter 2 focuses on that second shift, noting that migration levels are falling long before we formally exit the EU. Chapter 3 discusses how businesses may react to these forces, mapping the varying scope for...  [+] Show more

This book discusses [the challenges of Brexit and the wider challenges and opportunities facing the UK's labour market] and how business and policy makers might rise to the challenges they pose. The first chapter explains why our labour market may have reached a tipping point, with an increase in the relative cost of low-wage labour and a fall in supply as migration levels reduce. Chapter 2 focuses on that second shift, noting that migration levels are falling long before we formally exit the EU. Chapter 3 discusses how businesses may react to these forces, mapping the varying scope for investment in skills and automation in different sectors. Chapter 4 turns to what the government can do to offset any fall in labour supply by supporting those furthest from the labour market. Chapter 5 outlines how we can tackle high levels of precarious jobs and get our labour market ready for the new world of work, while Chapter 6 focuses on how we can begin to address the UK's endemic challenge of progression out of low pay.

Excerpt from publication.

Chapters: End of an era?; the supply of low-wage labour is set to fall and its price is set to rise / Torsten Bell and Stephen Clarke; Filling in the gaps; preparing for the end of free movement / Stephen Clarke; A firm response: business responses to the labour market tipping point will vary by sector / Kathleen Henehan; All working together: how to draw more people into the UK labour market / Stephen Clarke; 'Atypical' day at the office: tackling the problems of 'atypical' work / Stephen Clarke; Moving on up: enabling earnings progression in the UK labour market / David Finch.