The Activating Employers project asks how governments can encourage employers to create “good jobs” in low-wage, high-growth sectors, through a comparison of government regulation, policymaking and behavioural incentivisation in the UK, the US and Australia.
The post-economic crisis landscape has seen tightening budgets combined with governments placing an emphasis on delivering contracts based on cost-first principles. Add this to the global economic shocks of the pandemic and instability in Europe, there has been a growing crisis in sectors which rely on government procurement.
The construction industry is one of the leading beneficiaries of government procurement spending, and Compared to other sectors there are often clear pathways to progression for workers. In some U.S. states, Trade Unions and community agreements ensure apprenticeship programs, distinguishing it from other industries.
In this short video, Anne Daguerre provides a brief overview of Activating Employers and the effect this research will have on real-world policies and employment opportunities.
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The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government.
The Activating Employers project is generously supported by a £481,309 grant from the Economic and Social Research Council (grant number ES/X000583/1).
Anne Daguerre and Sean Vincent presented their research at the Social Policy Association conference in Glasgow, discussing welfare-to-work policy and the Good Jobs agenda amid the new Labour government. Key findings included support for the Biden administration's Good Jobs agenda, potential challenges from a future GOP administration, and plans for further research in the UK and Australia.
Washington D.C. is a hub for legislative activity and economic reform under the Biden administration. Despite gentrification challenges, Bidenomics aims to create good jobs through infrastructure spending. Strong union support and local workforce development efforts are crucial in ensuring equitable job opportunities and sustainable economic growth.
Pittsburgh, now a White House-designated workforce development hub, faces challenges in the healthcare and construction sectors. A growing coalition aims to improve wages and working conditions, especially in healthcare. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial to addressing workforce issues and integrating immigrants. The embedded video provides more detailed insights.
Activating Employers' initiative in Baltimore focuses on connecting underserved communities to job opportunities through specialised construction training, comprehensive wraparound services, and clear career pathways. Leveraging federal infrastructure funds, the effort aims to address employment challenges and promote equitable economic growth, ensuring meaningful and sustainable jobs for all community members.
The Activating Employers project announces the completion of a commissioned report conducted by the Institute for Employment Studies (IES). The report provides a groundbreaking cross-national comparison of employment support services in the UK, the US and Australia, sets out existing models of best practice within each country and provides important next steps in terms of where national level policymaking focus in the future.
The UK Procurement Act 2023 is due to come into force in the latter half of 2024. It will introduce the largest shift in UK procurement objectives since the introduction of the Social Value Act (2012) and apply to most sectors in the UK.
The University of Brighton School of Business and Law played host to the first advisory board meeting of the Activating Employers project this week. It was the first opportunity for the project team and the board members to meet face to face and discuss the future direction of the project.
Activating Employers team members Dr Anne Daguerre and Dr Sean Vincent, both of Brighton University, made the first public presentation of preliminary findings of the Activating Employers project at the Social Policy Association annual conference held at the University of Nottingham.
