” … In their 50’s – WFL Position Paper from Working Free – 24.6.24
Working Free supports the Senior Executive considering or embarking on a new career as an independent professional. We work with Individuals directly and with Organisations as part of restructuring, redundancy, outplacement, career development or other mid-career transitioning arrangements and where independent working at senior levels is seen as an attractive way forward.
This means that they are mostly in their 50s. It is generally at this stage when transitioning into a new career – and as an Independent Professional – can and does happen. This also happens to be the age range that constitutes most of the group now referred to with the fairly new word “worklessness”. Some were made redundant pe-Covid, and which has continued. Some simply opted out – and this consists of those who made conscious lifestyle decisions – and felt able to pay for it – and some just defaulted into it. – with varying levels of commitment and expectation. It also includes those with illnesses – mental and physical – and who were not able to work – being personal decisions of various levels of conviction.
Recent assessments measure this group at 9.4m
Given that the population of the UK is about 68m, and the working population is assessed by the ONS at 33m and FTE (Full time Employees) at about 23m – 9.4m is a bit of a chunky figure.
The current (Conservative) Government assesses the overall cost of Covid at about £400bn – and which covers Covid and its pernicious and continuing ripple impacts and Putin’s activities.
Blame games are destructive and pointless.
The core task is to find out more about the continuing ripple impacts and react.
In May 2021, we published an Insights Paper Diaspora Business Networks (best reached through google) Is this the coming business model? Covid and technology were the key drivers taking us into a different working world. We are still changing.
Action will be about efficient businesses making good profits (generating wealth) and the individuals who make this happen – notwithstanding needless dogma, bureaucracy, and restrictions. The individual is vital. Individuals need to be centre stage.
Better comes Next.
Working Free would see the Institute of Employment Studies (www.Employment-Studies.co.uk ) as the UK’s most relevant and informative commentator and interpreter of the UK workplace.
This is what they say in their June 2024 Report: –
“This has been a dismal five years in the labour market, and today’s jobs figures confirm that this Parliament has seen the weakest employment growth since 1979-1983, alongside the largest increase in ‘economic inactivity’ in a single Parliament since comparable records began in 1971. The latest data is even worse than the poor figures that we have seen over the last couple of months, with the employment rate falling again to its lowest since 2017; economic inactivity now higher than it was in the depths of the pandemic; and unemployment edging up slightly (but remaining low by historic standards).”
Tony Wilson (Director of the Institute of Employment Studies) comments “When employment stops growing, so does the economy. This parliament has seen the largest rise in economic inactivity and the largest contraction in the size of the workforce since records began in 1971.”
Labour Market Statistics, June 2024
This briefing note sets out analysis of the Labour Market Statistics published on 11 June 2024. Read more
Working for the future: five priorities for reforming employment support in the next parliament
IES Director Tony Wilson sets out five priorities for a new approach to employment support, for whoever wins the next election: based on ambitious objectives, clear entitlements, empowering people, a reformed employment (and careers) service, and new ‘labour market partnerships’ to take this forward. Full story
Further and major change will become evident. Both the Tories and Labour Manifestos pledge to slash their use of Consultants – deemed to be in addition to what they have already actioned and are seen as looking for savings in excess of over £700m a year. The Tories also want to reduce the number of Civil Servants to at least to pre-Covid levels – in the form of 90k roles. Labour appears to be suggesting that Civil Servants will pick up the work that would have been done by external Consultants.
About Working Free
Working Free supports the Senior Executive considering or embarking on a new career as an independent professional. We work with Individuals directly and with Organisations as part of restructuring, redundancy, outplacement, career development or other mid career transitioning arrangements and where independent working at senior levels is seen as an attractive way forward.
08081 565604 – 07785 297059. charles.russam@WorkingFree.co.uk . www.WorkingFree.co.uk
Working Free Limited is a company registered in England and Wales. Regd number: 08963376. Regd Office: 45 Pall Mall, London. SW1Y 5JG.
Working Together with www.DevonshireHouseNetwork.co.uk
BETTER COMES NEXT