Labour market stats response, October 2025

L&W's chief executive Stephen Evans and chief economist Dr Helen Gray respond to the latest labour market data from ONS.

Restoring adult skills attainment to 2010 levels could boost the economy by £22 billion

A new report from Learning and Work Institute calls for sustained action to reverse over a decade of decline in adult literacy and numeracy skills as well as learning to GCSE and A level equivalent – with an economic prize of £22 billion at stake.

Ambition skills: toward a lifelong learning century

‘Ambition skills: toward a lifelong learning century’ is the final report produced as part of our Ambition Skills programme of work. It finds that achieving world-class skills could boost the economy by £22 billion.

Supporting the progression of low-income workers in Scotland

This report shares findings from the first phase of work, funded by the Robertson Trust, and delivered in partnership with Edinburgh College, to build the evidence base on what works to best support low-income workers to progress into better jobs.

Kay Smith

Nisha Patel

Calvin Lees

Wendy Ellaway-Lock

Amy Solanki

Tim Mitchell