Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Britain isn’t working the rise of joblessness
#UKJobsCrisis
#UnemploymentUK
#Worklessness
In the UK, there are currently around 9.4 million people aged between 16 and 64 years old who are economically inactive – neither in work, nor looking for work. Although part of this high figure for economic inactivity is put down to more older workers retiring early and large numbers of students, it is widely acknowledged that the UK has a worklessness problem.
Are the shortages of workers a temporary, post-pandemic blip or a sign of a structural problem? Is it mainly due to the structure of our labour market and the kinds of jobs available, or are there other factors at play? Will the economy suffer if a minority never work? What can be done to get the UK back to work?
The speakers on this panel are:
Julia Hobsbawm OBE - host, The Nowhere Office; founder, Workathon; author, Working Assumptions; commentator and columnist, Bloomberg
Dr Linda Murdoch - researcher on wellbeing and work ethic; former director of careers, University of Glasgow; citizens advice volunteer
Professor Vicky Pryce - chief economic adviser and board member, Centre for Economics and Business Research; author, Women vs Capitalism
Andy Twelves - spokesperson, British Computer Society and The Chartered Institute for IT; trade unionist; founder, OrganiseLab; broadcaster
The chair is:
Phil Mullan - writer, lecturer and business manager; author, Beyond Confrontation: globalists, nationalists and their discontents
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
Britain isn’t working the rise of joblessness
#UKJobsCrisis
#UnemploymentUK
#Worklessness
In the UK, there are currently around 9.4 million people aged between 16 and 64 years old who are economically inactive – neither in work, nor looking for work. Although part of this high figure for economic inactivity is put down to more older workers retiring early and large numbers of students, it is widely acknowledged that the UK has a worklessness problem.
Are the shortages of workers a temporary, post-pandemic blip or a sign of a structural problem? Is it mainly due to the structure of our labour market and the kinds of jobs available, or are there other factors at play? Will the economy suffer if a minority never work? What can be done to get the UK back to work?
The speakers on this panel are:
Julia Hobsbawm OBE - host, The Nowhere Office; founder, Workathon; author, Working Assumptions; commentator and columnist, Bloomberg
Dr Linda Murdoch - researcher on wellbeing and work ethic; former director of careers, University of Glasgow; citizens advice volunteer
Professor Vicky Pryce - chief economic adviser and board member, Centre for Economics and Business Research; author, Women vs Capitalism
Andy Twelves - spokesperson, British Computer Society and The Chartered Institute for IT; trade unionist; founder, OrganiseLab; broadcaster
The chair is:
Phil Mullan - writer, lecturer and business manager; author, Beyond Confrontation: globalists, nationalists and their discontents
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
