Abstract
Key messages
• Both the quantity and quality of labour supply varies across the country, and the lack of congruity between labour supply and demand effects both local and national economies.
• A better allocation of labour across regions leads to higher productivity, so the geographical mobility of labour is an important policy consideration
• Skills policies have been key to past governments’ responses to labour supply issues, but they are not sufficient on their own: business support, sectoral and innovation policies should also play a role in tackling low skills supply across regions
• Accelerated digitisation means that workers have increased freedom when choosing where to live and work; place attractiveness is therefore likely to rise up the policy agenda
• As a result of changing structures of employment and skills, policymakers will need to consider regional labour markets and skills demand in a broader policy context than they have done previously
- Past policies have demonstrated that a rise in skills levels does not necessarily lead to increased productivity; policies which focus on driving demand for and utilisation of skills are also needed to tackle this
• Both the quantity and quality of labour supply varies across the country, and the lack of congruity between labour supply and demand effects both local and national economies.
• A better allocation of labour across regions leads to higher productivity, so the geographical mobility of labour is an important policy consideration
• Skills policies have been key to past governments’ responses to labour supply issues, but they are not sufficient on their own: business support, sectoral and innovation policies should also play a role in tackling low skills supply across regions
• Accelerated digitisation means that workers have increased freedom when choosing where to live and work; place attractiveness is therefore likely to rise up the policy agenda
• As a result of changing structures of employment and skills, policymakers will need to consider regional labour markets and skills demand in a broader policy context than they have done previously
- Past policies have demonstrated that a rise in skills levels does not necessarily lead to increased productivity; policies which focus on driving demand for and utilisation of skills are also needed to tackle this
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Lessons from the History of Regional Development Policy in the UK |
| Editors | Ron Martin |
| Publisher | The British Academy |
| Chapter | 5 |
| Pages | 42-51 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9780856726859 |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Oct 2024 |
Publication series
| Name | Policy Histories |
|---|---|
| Publisher | The British Academy |
Keywords
- labour market
- regional development
- policies
- migration
- jobs
- work