Blair think tank turns fire on Labour over wage hikes and tax squeeze March 1, 2026 Tony Blair’s think tank has published a critique of Labour’s economic strategy, warning that higher minimum wages, rising employers’ National Insurance and tougher workers’ rights risk choking off growth and pricing young people out of jobs. In a striking intervention from the former Labour prime minister’s own policy institute, the report deems the government’s labour [...]
James Reed: Youth unemployment crisis will have decades-long impact February 25, 2026 Those not working in their twenties are unlikely to start in their thirties. The youth unemployment crisis needs action, writes James Reed.
UK tech faces hiring crunch despite AI visa push February 23, 2026 Applications from overseas tech workers wanting to move to the UK have dropped significantly, adding to concerns over talent shortages in one of the economy’s faster growing sectors. New data by accountancy firm RSM UK found the number of international workers applying for a UK visa to work in tech dropped 11 per cent from [...]
Job vacancies at lowest level since 2021 as London worst affected February 23, 2026 The UK’s job market took another hit after total vacancies fell to the lowest level since 2021, with London the region facing the biggest drop in open roles. The number of jobs advertised plummeted 16 per cent year-on-year to January, dipping below 700,000 for the first time since January 2021, according to job search platform [...]
Retail jobs at risk from Labour’s employment reforms February 19, 2026 Retailers could cut hours and make redundancies as a result of Labour’s Employment Rights Act, a survey of business leaders has found. Employment costs have shot up the list of concerns cited by retail chief finance officers (CFOs) and finance directors since the start of the act’s implementation, according to a survey by trade body [...]
Ageing workforce puts London’s specialty insurance sector at risk February 5, 2026 London’s specialty (re)insurance market employs around 61,000 people, but despite this, the sector is facing a ‘critical’ talent shortage. According to data from the trade body, the London Market Group (LMG), that headcount is up 3 per cent since 2022, but the sector is expected to require around 82,200 by the end of 2034. The [...]
Graduate crisis proves British universities are no longer fit for purpose January 28, 2026 It's time to accept that a substantial proportion of British universities are simply not fit for purpose, writes Paul Ormerod.
The graduate crisis: hundreds of thousands sign on to welfare January 27, 2026 The myth is surely shattered; university is not a springboard into the future and a degree does not guarantee you a job. New analysis reveals that over 700,000 university graduates are out of work and claiming benefits. The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), which studied data from the Labour Force Survey and the Department for [...]
Private medical insurance claims rise as City workers seek quicker care January 26, 2026 Diagnostic tests top private medical insurance claims as City workers increasingly seek coverage for everyday health needs. According to data from Howden, diagnostic tests and scans are number one across all categories, except for those over 65. This comes as the NHS waiting list has started to fall in recent months, yet 7.31m people across [...]
James Reed: Usual January job hunting surge delayed by WFH January 26, 2026 The first Monday of the working year has long been the busiest day for job searches, but that's slowly changing, writes James Reed.