Ahead of the May election, the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) today (20 April) has highlighted the need to incentivise jobseekers in order to reduce long-term unemployment.

The IES whitepaper identifies a number of other key priorities:

·     cutting youth unemployment with effective vocational training and personal support

·     providing effective support and funding for higher education

·     tackling demographic ageing and an increasing dependency ratio

·     improving health at work

·     supporting development of future skills

Nigel Meager, IES director, says: “Following this year’s General Election, whichever party takes office will be faced with a range of pressing policy issues on all fronts. However, high unemployment, the changing demands for skills, the need to increase productivity and to reduce expenditure on welfare mean that policies relating to employment and skills will be among the most important. As the UK emerges from a recession, tackling these policy issues will be an urgent priority.”