Latest Publications

This report seeks to understand whether and how policymakers can use the tools at their disposal to shape corporate-decision making. In particular, it focuses on how to encourage businesses to...

This research report seeks to understand whether and how government can use tax and regulation policy to promote wage progression and career progression among low-paid workers. Experiences in the labour...

This report looks at the growing problem of low paid self employment in the UK and offers recommendations on what the government can do to address this important issue.

This research looks at the employment challenges among a group in society for whom the economy has too often not worked: namely social housing tenants. In particular it looks at the challenges of low pay and ‘in-work poverty’.

This report analyses the impact of the new National Living Wage on businesses, looking at the sectors and occupations affected, how businesses might respond, and what government can do to ease the transition to the higher rate.

Our new research finds that low-paid self-employment is rising. Around half of the UK’s self-employed are in low pay, measured on an hourly basis, compared with around a fifth of employees. Whilst the proportion of self-employed workers in low pay has been growing, in comparison, the proportion of employees in low pay has remained relatively stable.

New research in this data pack, conducted by the Social Market Foundation, analyses the potential impact of the new National Living Wage rate on businesses across the UK.

Why are some ethnic groups more likely to be self-employed? Is it a route to social mobility or a reflection of being locked out of other jobs? This paper looks at how self-employment compares, and has changed, across ethnic groups in the UK.

Making Progress proposes a skills based in-work progression policy to help individuals stuck on low pay enhance their productivity and escape the low pay trap.