Naomi Clayton
LightNews LightNews
banner
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Naomi Clayton
@naomiclayton.bsky.social
250 followers 160 following 38 posts
Chief Executive at Institute for Employment Studies. Formerly Learning and Work Institute, What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth, Centre for Cities and Work Foundation.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
In a new blog ahead of Wednesday’s Autumn Statement,
@naomiclayton.bsky.social calls for the Budget to focus on three key areas for action: youth employment, health and disability support and employer engagement. Read: bit.ly/4pa3pLS
To raise living standards, the government should fast-track supply side reforms that support more people into work and to remain in work, create skills and reskilling pathways and boost economic growth.
November 24, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
📢New blog! IES' @naomiclayton.bsky.social reflects on the Keep Britain Working Review, considering how the recommendations can be best implemented by both government and employers, when taking a 'whole-system' approach and embedding good work as a foundation for health. Read: bit.ly/4qRgGdG
“A cross-government approach is needed to reduce work-related illness and absence. While we should build on the wealth of good practice and foster a ‘race to the top’, we must also raise the floor, ensuring that all work meets minimum standards that support health, productivity and retention. Poor quality work, including insecure contracts, excessive or irregular hours, high demands with low control, and weak workplace relationships, can be as damaging to health as unemployment. Work-related ill-health is also a significant problem in public service sectors, including health and teaching, where the government has greater leverage to be able to influence working conditions.”
November 11, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
andrewphillips.bsky.social
How can we support better, longer careers in the context of a rising State Pension age?

Come and discuss this with us at our event in London on 13 November with our speakers @csfoot.bsky.social, @naomiclayton.bsky.social, Sarah Ellis and Dr Suzy Morrissey:

events.standardlife.co.uk/ExtendingThe...
Extending the journey: Work and careers in an era of a rising State Pension age
Next year, the first group of people will see their State Pension age rise from 66 to 67 – the latest in a series of rises since 2010. Over that time, the employment rate of people in their 60s has in...
events.standardlife.co.uk
October 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
📢 New ReAct research highlights what works in strategic partnerships and how collaboration can bring benefits to operational delivery and participant experience, resulting in a more comprehensive support offer and better tailoring of support for participants. Read our findings: bit.ly/47vtcIH
September 9, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
rentouljohn.bsky.social
The next phase of the reshuffle
September 6, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
Its now only just over a month until our Annual Conference! We will be discussing how organisations can effectively improve productivity through people, and our speakers include some of the UK's leading employment specialists & HR thinkers. Register here: bit.ly/41jBNua
September 4, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
Comment from IES' @naomiclayton.bsky.social on the just-announced Labour Market Statistics from ONS. Our briefing note will be available later today, sign up here to receive via email: employment-studies.co.uk/news-press/i...
"The labour market continues to cool as employers respond to cost pressures and global uncertainty. Payroll numbers are falling, pay growth is slowing and vacancies are now well below pre-pandemic levels, as employers cut back hiring. Hospitality and retail sectors have seen the largest declines in employment and among the fastest pay growth - pointing to the combined impacts of the rise in employers’ National Insurance contributions and the increase in the National Living Wage. While the headline data remains uncertain, these trends underline the urgent need to boost the economy and support job creation."
August 12, 2025 at 7:45 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Latest labour market stats: The labour market continues to cool as employers respond to cost pressures and global uncertainty. Payroll numbers are falling, pay growth is slowing and vacancies are now well below pre-pandemic levels, as employers cut back hiring.
August 12, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
theguyliner.bsky.social
20 years ago today, a bomb exploded on a bus at Tavistock Square. I was there. This is what happened:
The Seventh
I am not supposed to be here. That’s almost all I can think as I run as fast as I can away from Tavistock Square. It is 7 July 2005. I am not supposed to be here. I am supposed to be at work. I nev…
theguyliner.com
July 7, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
cornwallchar.bsky.social
This is quite a story. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
London bombings: I survived 7/7, but still see the suicide bomber everywhere
Dan Biddle recalls a bright, white flash as a bomb was detonated just metres away from him on a London Underground train.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 7, 2025 at 9:29 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
gavin-kelly.bsky.social
Surprised & saddened to see this happen to Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust - they have supported vital work on debt, pensions, tax & much else.

www.thetimes.com/article/7d69...
Aberdeen under fire after ousting financial charity’s board
The chief executive and all ten independent trustees of Abrdn Financial Fairness Trust were removed in shift away from funding research
www.thetimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
andrewsparrowgdn.bsky.social
Full text of Liz Kendall's letter to Labour MPs confirming welfare bill U-turn - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
June 27, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
To mark National Employability Day 2025, Rosie Gloster and Jonny Buzzeo consider the government's Get Britian Working plans, and detail the key lessons from previous efforts to improve employment rates which can be used most effectively to inform this initiative: bit.ly/3G1Lhmh
Quote from Rosie Glaster, "Organisations asked to Get Britain Working should embed employment outcomes across system partners, fund the creation of partnerships and networks to share effective practice, and work to align and build trust on the consistency of service user experience. This will require ongoing investment, not just to establish these systems, but also to adapt and sustain them."
June 19, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
louisemurphy.bsky.social
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been released. Here's a short thread highlighting a few things we learned:

(1) 200,000 people who are in the 'Severe Conditions Criteria group' will be protected from the changes to UC-H.
Screenshot of text: As part of our commitment to protect the most vulnerable and severely disabled, peace of mind will also be given to 200,000 individuals in the Severe Conditions Criteria group - individuals with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions who will never be able to work - as they will not be called for reassessed for Universal Credit (UC) under new legislation. Those protected from reassessment will also be paid the higher rate of UC health top up of £97 per week, so they can live with dignity and security, knowing the reforms to the welfare system mean it will always be there to support them.
June 18, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
This new research for the Care Quality Commission identified that the majority of staff surveyed had experienced or seen unfair treatment at work. This report covers the details of how and why this is happening, and the most effective ways to make workplaces fairer. Read: bit.ly/4e4KQnR
June 13, 2025 at 9:51 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
With 1 in 8 young people NEET and 2.8m people out of work due to LT health conditions, how will today's #SpendingReview match up to the scale of the challenge and the government's 80% employment rate ambition? Lot of Qs on the DWP settlement and what next on Get Britain working reforms
June 11, 2025 at 11:18 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Early start this morning to host a day of discussions with key stakeholders in West Midlands on the local Get Britain Working plan #GetWestMidlandsWorking
May 15, 2025 at 8:46 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Great to be at Communities that Work parliamentary reception last night w/ @allymcgovern.bsky.social, where JobsPlus was centre stage. It’s an innovative, community-led approach to employment support, delivered through social housing, that’s being tested across 10 sites in England.
May 15, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
Comment from IES' Seemanti Ghosh on the just-announced Labour Market Statistics from the Office for National Statistics. Our briefing note will be available later today, please sign up here to receive via email: www.employment-studies.co.uk/news-press/i...
"The first labour market data since the rise in National Insurance contributions and the increase in the National Living Wage indicates that employers continue to show caution in workforce investment. This is evidenced by another drop in job vacancies now at a new low, and a further decline in payrolled employees. Against the backdrop of a cooling labour market and shifting policy environment, the economic outlook for the UK remains uncertain. The underlying trends reveal a fragile environment, where hiring confidence is weak and workforce planning is marked by hesitancy.”
May 13, 2025 at 8:03 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
First labour market stats since NIC and min wage increases in April.

Growth in employee jobs continues to slow and March/April marks first fall (-0.2% and 0.3%) since April 2021. Largest fall in the hospitality sector.
May 13, 2025 at 7:10 AM
Reposted by Naomi Clayton
employmentstudies.bsky.social
Comment from IES' Seemanti Ghosh on the just-announced Labour Market Statistics from the Office for National Statistics. Our briefing note will be available later today, sign up here to receive via email: employment-studies.co.uk/news-press/i...
“Vacancies have fallen by a further 26,000 on the quarter and hit a new low, payroll employees have decreased by 8,000 on the month, and unemployment remains relatively flat. Against the backdrop of a slowing economy, marked by weaker productivity growth and dampened business sentiment, and with nearly one in five working-age adults out of the labour force, rolling out the government’s industrial strategy cannot come soon enough."
April 15, 2025 at 7:37 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Unemployment remains relatively flat, growth in payrolled employees has slowed and vacancies continue to fall (to pre-pandemic rates).

Hospitality & retail have seen the largest falls in vacancies and payrolled employees - both sectors likely to be impacted NICs and min wage increases in April.
April 15, 2025 at 9:31 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Trump's trade war has weakened the UK's growth prospects, which may feed through to higher unemployment.

And some places will be hit harder than others e.g. a relatively large share of exports from the West Midlands, Wales, South West are goods exports to the US.

www.ft.com/content/3a2f...
UK growth forecasts hit by Trump’s tariffs
Economists factor in falling confidence and investment leading to job losses and a probable cut in borrowing costs
www.ft.com
April 9, 2025 at 9:02 AM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
Great to hear @duncanbhr.bsky.social on Radio 4 this morning talking about two decades of lost pay growth in the UK.

While the minimum wage is a good news story and means lots of low wage workers are better off, real average wages have stagnated since the 2008 financial crisis.
employmentstudies.bsky.social Institute for Employment Studies @employmentstudies.bsky.social · Apr 8
"If you're on average wages now, you're just about, in real terms, earning what you were in 2006." IES' @duncanbhr.bsky.social discusses why average wages have not increased in nearly 20 years on the new BBC Radio 4 series, Payslip Britain.
Listen here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
Payslip Britain - What's happened to your pay? - BBC Sounds
Sean Farrington explores why average wages haven't increased in nearly 20 years.
www.bbc.co.uk
April 8, 2025 at 4:47 PM
naomiclayton.bsky.social
“The real risk is…lots of people are pushed into poverty with all the negative consequences of being in poverty, it doesn’t help them get into work” @claremoriarty.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Benefit cuts will push more people into poverty, warns Citizens Advice boss
Exclusive: Clare Moriarty hits out at Labour’s plan as ‘short-term action’ with ‘long-term consequences’ in rare intervention
www.theguardian.com
March 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM