The labour market is showing signs of recovery as the economy reopens. But there’s a great deal of uncertainty about the nature and strength of the recovery.

While the coronavirus pandemic is primarily a public health crisis, it has also resulted in economic challenges, including a spike in unemployment. Now that the economy has reopened, there are signs that the labour market is recovering, with employment on the rise and the number of online vacancies above pre-crisis levels.

@LearnWorkUK and @NOCNGroup- 20 million lost training days risk holding recovery back as employers cut investment in skills   Action is needed to reverse falls in employer investment in training so that the UK’s economic recovery from the pandemic can be sustained. 

The Festival of Learning (@festival_learn) award winners for 2021 have been announced by Learning and Work Institute (@LearnWorkUK)  The 12 winners, revealed at an online awards ceremony, include inspiring stories of adult learners, as well as outstanding adult learning provision, tutors and employers.  

There is common ground that expanding quality sustainable employment must be a key plank of our efforts to rebuild the post-Covid economy and achieve a much fairer society. And there is also a consensus that access to well-paid jobs depends significantly on opening up opportunities to learning and skills for young people and adults alike, especially as almost all occupations are increasingly subject to technological change and the utilisation of AI.