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Key test of levelling up white paper is if it delivers
a plan for decent work across the country, says TUC
The British public’s number one priority for levelling up is more
and better jobs, according to new TUC polling published today
(Tuesday).
The TUC polling, conducted by YouGov, reveals one in two Britons
(49 per cent) think increasing the number and quality of jobs
available should be front and centre of the government’s strategy
to level up the UK.
Other popular policies include upgrading transport
infrastructure, which 35 per cent backed and improving high
streets and towns, which 33 per cent wanted.
Increasing the number and quality of jobs is popular across the
political spectrum.
Half (49 per cent) of those who voted Conservative in the 2019
general election want more and better jobs, along with more than
half of Labour voters (56 per cent) and Lib Dem voters (54 per
cent).
And it is popular among older voters – the demographic most
likely to vote Conservative. Half (52 per cent) of over 65s back
better jobs to level up the UK.
The polling also revealed what the government should prioritise
when looking at which areas to invest in:
- Two in five (40 per cent) said areas with lots of people in
poverty.
- Three in 10 (30 per cent) said areas with mostly low wage,
insecure work.
- Three in 10 (30 per cent) said areas with high unemployment.
Level up work
The new polling comes as the government prepares to publish its
levelling up white paper.
The TUC says the key test of the white paper is whether it sets
out a plan to deliver decent work across the country.
The union body warns that if the government does not “level up
work”, the government’s much-vaunted levelling up agenda will
fail.
Recent TUC research has revealed the widespread nature of
low-paid and insecure work in the UK:
- 3.6 million or one in nine working people are in insecure
work;
- The size of the gig economy has near tripled over the past
five years;
- One million children in key worker households are in poverty.
The TUC is urging the government to finally deliver its
long-awaited employment bill and put an end to the scourge of
insecure work by banning zero hours contracts and giving workers
greater rights – including greater union access to workplaces.
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:
“Everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work and paid a wage
they can live on. But for too many in the UK, work isn’t paying
the bills.
“After more than a decade of lost pay and with the cost-of-living
crisis taking its toll, it’s time ministers got their priorities
right. We can’t level up the country without levelling up work.
“The public has spoken. They want better jobs in every corner of
the country.
“The key test for the government’s white paper is whether it will
set out a plan for decent work across the country.
“That means ministers must finally deliver on an employment bill
to put an end to the scourge of insecure work by banning
zero-hours contracts and giving unions greater access to
workplaces.
“And the government must invest in good green jobs in industries
of the future and give key workers the decent pay rise they
deserve.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-YouGov conducted an online survey of 1,656 adults. Fieldwork was
undertaken between 26-27 January 2022. The figures have been
weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
