The review is set to explore how the government can best futureproof the labour market, assessing where skills development is most needed, what challenges to expect, and, linking to the Level Up strategy, how local economies can ensure access to good quality jobs.
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Though a positive move in theory Martin Tiplady, CEO of HR consultancy Chameleon People Solutions, was sceptical about the review's success.
Citing mixed messages over work from home and the lack of 2019's Employment Bill, he told HR magazine: "My issue is that I don’t especially have confidence in what has been announced.
"The removal of pretty much all employment initiatives in the Queen's Speech - and for the record, it is the second time that such has been promised and omitted - as well as the prime minister's statements about working from home and return to workplaces makes me wonder about the sincerity of this latest development. I hope to be proved wrong."
Amina Folarin, chief inclusion and people officer at advertising agency Inside Ideas Group, hoped that the review would prioritise education to help attract younger generations to the workforce.
Speaking to HR magazine, she said: "In any government instructed future of work review, they should take in consideration the future of education and policy. To have a highly skilled workforce we need to ensure that certain skillsets and careers are attractive to future generations."
Folarin added that the review should also consider an employment law update.
She said: "They also need to consider that employment law and employment types should keep up with the way in which people want to work.
"For HR departments they can be ahead of this by reviewing the skills they think might need to be upgraded as their organisations change and more job tasks become automated."
Alison Bawn, people director at Virgin Media O2 Business, suggested that technology should be at the heart of any review.
She told HR magazine: “Building tech into the future of work is not only the right thing to do. It’s also good business sense. The link between employee experience, customer experience and business performance is a long-established one.
“The last two years have made it clear: we simply can’t plan the future of work without considering the role of technology."
HR magazine recently conducted its own research into what the future of work might look like, including delving into the metaverse and its practical applications, as well as HR do's and dont's for the future. For a comprehensive guide, click here.
