This report from UK think tank City-REDI finds that high-level skills mismatches differ significantly by area and that policy responses should reflect local differences in demand. This study maps employer demand for higher-level qualifications (at Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) Level 4 and above), the supply of residents with these qualifications, and the resulting demand-supply gaps...

This report from UK think tank the Fabian Society explores how civil servants can help deliver a smarter state with AI. As artificial intelligence plays an increasingly prominent role in our lives, the government is rightly using its potential to rewire the state. The long-term efficacy and sustainability of our public services will rely on...

This report from UK think tank the Policy Institute examines the findings of a randomised controlled trial into cash transfers for care leavers. Young people leaving care who were given a one-off £2,000 cash lump sum, with no strings attached, were more likely to be in stable housing and less likely to be “sofa-surfing” than...

This report from UK think tank the Institute for Policy Research assesses the costs and benefits of introducing a new entitlement for self-employed and worker fathers. Although designed to promote gender equality, parental leave policies in the UK have yet to close the gap in uptake, with women taking significantly more leave than men. Authors...

This report from UK think tank PBE evaluates the impact of nature-based therapy on veterans. Veterans have some of the lowest levels of wellbeing, with around 160,000 self-reporting deep dissatisfaction with their lives. They may struggle with chronic health conditions, common mental health disorders and the anxiety which can come with unemployment and the feeling that their lives lack purpose....

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation paints a portrait of the poorer half of the country's population. The 13 million working-age families across the poorer half of the country are widely courted by politicians. No party can win elections without their votes, and the country cannot succeed without their needs being met....

This report from UK think tank the Adam Smith Institute examines the effects of the new union access regime on SMEs. This report examines the economic impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025 on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The core of the report argues that the Act’s new provisions—which allow trade unions to demand...

This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs examines the costs and benefits of flexible working. The costs of flexible working requirements have rarely been properly assessed and could extend to undermining growth, increasing unemployment and the rise in post-Covid withdrawal from the workforce. Employers and employees, negotiating in the ‘particular circumstances...

This report from UK think tank the Jobs Foundation looks at both the effect of government policy on the energy sector and on jobs and communities. The Jobs Foundation’s first report on the connection between energy and job creation/retention, Jobs and Energy: The effect of high energy costs on the UK jobs market was published...

This report from UK think tank Centre for Cities focuses on the cities that offer lessons for a government looking to raise living standards everywhere. Cities Outlook, our annual health check of the economic performance of urban Britain, offers a deep dive into the latest economic data on how UK cities are performing against a range...

This report from UK think tank City-REDI explores labour demand in East Birmingham & North Solihull (EBNS) by sector and major occupation group. This briefing uses online job postings data to explore labour demand in East Birmingham and North Solihull (EBNS) by sector and major occupation group. It also looks at how patterns of job...

This report from UK think tank the Jobs Foundation illustrates how policy uncertainty and rising costs are shaping real-world decisions on hiring, investment and growth. Family businesses are a cornerstone of the UK economy, employing millions of people and sustaining communities across the country. This new report, commissioned by the Jobs Foundation and conducted by...

This report from UK think tank the Growth and Reform Network looks at connecting disadvantaged neighbourhoods to new economic opportunities. Achieving higher levels of economic growth is one of the main objectives of the current government. However, for many neighbourhoods in England, high growth is a distant memory. The areas that most need economic growth...

This report from UK think tank the Resolution Foundation discusses the labour market outlook in the final quarter of 2025. Employment has fallen over the past two years and is substantially lower than it was before the pandemic. Perhaps surprisingly given its central place in policy debates, participation is essentially unchanged compared to pre-pandemic: rising...

This report from UK think tank Green Alliance highlights five reasons people love the circular economy. 83 per cent of Brits say throwaway culture is a problem, but those involved in the circular economy know, and love, the viable alternative options it offers. Green Alliance spoke to people across the country who use and work...