Finding the future workforce

Academics, trade union representatives and experts from business and industry will meet in Edinburgh today to start work on supporting the Government’s ambitions to create more, better paid, quality jobs.

One of the key actions outlined in the Scottish Government’s Labour Market Strategy, the new Strategic Labour Market Group will look at ways of developing: 

• Low unemployment and high employment

• A skilled, productive, engaged workforce that meets the needs of employers;

• Equal opportunities to access work and progress in employment

• Fulfilling, secure and well-paid jobs where employees’ contributions are encouraged, respected and valued

• A sustainable working population that can retain and attract new talent

Chaired by Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn, the group will also measure the strategy’s progress, make recommendations on adapting to changes in the labour market such as the impact of Brexit, and consider new research on developing the workforce.

He said:

“We recognise that creating a fairer society, where there are no barriers to work and employees are skilled, valued and meet the needs of employers is key to our ambitions of building a strong and inclusive economy.

“Our labour market must be responsive and adaptable and we must ensure that we are taking all the steps we can to get more people into secure, well paid, quality work which is why getting businesses, trade unions, policy and academia together to come up with new ideas is crucial.”

Background

Strategic Labour Market Group members are:

Dr. Jim McCormick, Joseph Rowntree Foundation; Prof. Ewart Keep, Oxford University

David Watt, Institute of Directors Scotland

Dr. Gina Netto, Heriot-Watt University

Elma Murray, SOLACE

Prof. Graeme Roy, Fraser of Allander Institute

Stephen Boyle, Royal Bank of Scotland

Amanda Jones, Maclay Murray & Spens LLP

Gary Sharp, Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed

Jamie Kerr, Thorntons Law

Michelle Armour, Babcock International Group

Hamish Watson, Scottish Power

Mark Smith, Standard Life

Lynne Cadenhead, WES

Grahame Smith, STUC

Francis Stuart, Oxfam

Lucy O’Carroll, Aberdeen Asset Management

Read the Labour Market Strategy.