Building better futures: decent work, inclusion and careers support services in the UK

ABSTRACT

The concepts of decent work, inclusion and supporting individuals to find pathways to learning and work opportunities present new opportunities and real challenges. Job security, roles and labour markets are changing rapidly. We focus on how the UK careers support landscape in each of the four home nations is changing in response to the pandemic. We argue that the quasi-market, experimental approach to careers provision in England has significantly weakened young people’s access to professionally-trained advisers. We outline a 'spaces and places paradigm' to reframe careers support in transformative ways. Our results show fragmented policies in England will not create the level of support needed by individuals, particularly those most vulnerable in the aftermath of Covid-19, to build better futures for themselves.

KEYWORDS:

• Careers services
• decent work
• digital
• inclusion
• impact

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 The ILO’s Decent Work Agenda has 12 dimensions: (1) social dialogue; (2) workers’ and employee representation; (3) employment opportunities; (4) adequate earnings and productive work; (5) decent working time; (6) combining work, family and personal life; (7) abolition of certain types of work (e.g. child labour, forced labour); (8) stability and security of work; (9) equal opportunity and treatment in employment; (10) safe work environment; (11) social security; (12) economic and social context for decent work.

2 Department for Economy and the Department of Education joint ministerial responsibilities (N. Ireland); Department for Fair Work, Business and Skills (Scotland); Department for the Economy, Transport and North Wales lead with responsibility for Careers Wales.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deirdre Hughes

Dr Deirdre Hughes is Director of DMH Associates, Exeter, UK, and an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Employment Research, University of Warwick, UK. She is also a Legacy Fellow of the Career Development Institute, UK.

Chris Warhurst

Prof. Chris Warhurst is Director of the Institute for Employment Research at the University of Warwick, UK. He is also a Trustee of the Tavistock Institute in London and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, UK.

Emma Benger

Emma Benger is Project Manager for the Working Wales initiative across Wales. She has recently been seconded to the Welsh Government to support the strategic development of the government’s employability strategy.

Mandy Ifans

Mandy Ifans is Head of Employment Advice in Careers Wales and a member of the Senior Leadership Team (Wales).