Long COVID: Job Loss, Work Hours and Mental Health of Workers

Darja Reuschke explains some of the key findings of her latest paper with Donald Houston and Paul Sissons on the impacts of Long COVID on workers. Context COVID-19 infections are on the rise again. While for some, the symptoms will be flu-like, for others, an infection with the virus will cause long-term illness. By the … Continue reading “Long COVID: Job Loss, Work Hours and Mental Health of Workers”

What Is Behind the UK’s Labour Shortage?

Professor Donald Houston and Stephen Hunsaker explore the UK labour shortage, suggesting that a combination of baby boomers retiring, high Covid infection rates during the pandemic, capacity constraints in the NHS, and Brexit are all at play. This article was first published in the UK in a Changing Europe website. Much has happened in the … Continue reading “What Is Behind the UK’s Labour Shortage?”

Economic Inactivity in the West Midlands

Anne Green examines rates of economic inactivity in the West Midlands. Who is inactive and why?  This article was written for the Birmingham Economic Review 2023. The review is produced by City-REDI / WMREDI, the University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s … Continue reading “Economic Inactivity in the West Midlands”

What Could the £4 billion Expansion of Childcare Support mean for the West Midlands Economy?

In the 2023 Spring Statement the UK Government announced plans to expand free childcare to children between 9 months and 2 years old. Matt Lyons and Abi Taylor investigate what this could mean for the West Midlands. The UK Government announced a £4bn childcare expansion policy in England. Key objectives of the policy include removing … Continue reading “What Could the £4 billion Expansion of Childcare Support mean for the West Midlands Economy?”