Event Details

Join the Work Foundation and a panel of experts to review the labour market statistics and the latest interest rate decision from the Bank of England, and what it means for workers, businesses and communities.

The Labour Government came to office promising to raise living standards, boost economic growth and to get Britain working again.

The start of 2025 has seen persistent pressures on the UK economy. Real wage growth has bucked this trend with pay after inflation rising at the highest level since 2021. While good news for workers, these gains are only repairing the damage of increased prices that reduced living standards across the country over the last few years.

However, falling vacancies point to a cooling jobs market but reliability issues with the Labour Force Survey means that policymakers are potentially ‘flying blind’. Business confidence is low with employer tax rises and minimum wage increases due in April. And near record long-term sickness continue to drive worker shortages, with the Government promising to Get Britain Working and introducing new rights for workers over the coming year.

Against this backdrop, what are the trade-offs facing policymakers as we approach the Spring Forecast 2025?

Speakers include:

• Martin Weale (Professor of Economics at King's Business School and former member of Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee)
• Nicola Smith (Director of Policy, TUC)
• Michael Stull (Managing Director, ManpowerGroup UK)
• Ben Harrison (Director, Work Foundation at Lancaster University).