Equality and Skills in a Changing Economy: Briefing Papers
The UK Commission for Employment and Skills has published this series of five Briefing Papers which presents analysis and commentary on equality and skills in a changing economy. Each of the papers focuses on a different equality theme or group: Disability; Gender; Low Skills and Social Disadvantage; Older People; and Spatial Inequality.
Equality and employment is an important and well-researched field. The Youth Inquiry (UK Commission 2011) explored questions around the unemployment, recruitment and employer perspectives of young people. In May 2011, Joseph Rowntree Foundation published ‘Poverty and ethnicity: a review of evidence’ and is launching a fuller programme of in this area. In order to add value to the existing body of research in this area, the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has published a series of Briefing Papers with a clear and distinct focus on equality and skills in a changing economy. The aim is that the series will inform and enable connected thinking about equality of opportunity and the role of skills.
There are five Briefing Papers in the series, these are:
- Disability and skills in a changing economy
- Gender and skills in a changing economy
- Low skills and social disadvantage in a changing economy
- Older people and skills in a changing economy
- Spatial inequality and skills in a changing economy
Together the Briefing Papers in this series bring understanding and insight to the skills related challenges, needs and opportunities for individuals who are disadvantaged in the labour market. The papers each provide a valuable reference guide and introduction to the skills and employment profile, and outlook, for the group or theme. The papers take stock of the impact of the recession, economic development and foresight, and, current and emerging implications for skills needs and skills development. The papers consider the potential needs, and role, of individuals, employers and the system to enable people to reach their potential and achieve greater competitiveness in the labour market. Across the series of papers, questions are raised about how best to enable opportunity through skills and the potential implications are discussed.
Views expressed by the authors in these papers are not necessarily those of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
