The structure of the labour market in the UK has changed
dramatically over the last few years and will continue to change:
- We remain in full- or part-time education until we
are older, while more of us are opting to retire at an earlier age.
- The largest growth in labour market participation
between 1990 and 2000 occurred among mothers with young children.
- It is projected that 66% of the increase in the UK
population between 2000 and 2025 will be attributable to immigration.
- Generation Y (those born after 1978) has entered
the workforce: these young workers look at an organisation’s
track record on corporate social responsibility and are not afraid
to negotiate flexible working terms.
The types of work we do and the nature of work
itself have also changed dramatically over the past 20 years:
- It is estimated that over 20 million people in
the UK are employed in the service sector and just 3.8 million
in manufacturing. (AGCAS 2003).
- The intensity of work has increased: average working
hours are shorter but work is carried out faster. Intensification
affects all countries in the EU, all industry sectors and all occupational
categories.
- Changes in technology (IT and telephony) give employers
more flexibility in terms of the way they ask people to work. 80%
of managers said that virtual working (also called e-working) is
a key business issue, according to a 2003 Roffey Park report.
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