Publications

Our key outputs across the lifespan of the Skills Imperative Programme have: 

  • Identified the nature and scale of the challenge
  • Projected what jobs will exist in 2035 and the skills that will be needed to do these jobs
  • Identified skills gaps
  • Examined which groups of workers are in declining occupations and in most need of support
  • Identified how young people’s skills develop and the role that the education system and wider factors play
  • Drawn out lessons from high-performing education systems abroad 

We have shared out insights via a number of reports, which are listed below. 

WORKING PAPERS

Working Paper 1: Literature Review

Working Paper 2: Occupational Outlook - Long-run employment prospects for the UK (also see revised 2035 Employment and Skills projections below)

Working Paper 3: 2035 Skills Projections (also see revised 2035 Employment and Skills projections below)

Revised 2035 Employment and Skills Projections

Working Paper 4: Rethinking skills gaps and solutions

Working Paper 5: Shifting sands: Anticipating changes in the future labour market and supporting the workers at greatest risk

Working Paper 6: Building foundations: The implications of research on childhood skill development for addressing future skills needs in England

Working Paper 7: International Comparisons: Investigating cross-country differences in young people’s skill development and identifying factors associated with high-performance

Working Paper 8: Education Pathways, Skills Development and Occupational Outcomes

The story so far (January 2025)

  •   Summary booklet - This booklet tells the Skills Imperative story so far and summarises the key findings and recommendations from the published papers, as well as previewing upcoming reports.

Upcoming reports

  • Final report: Developing a comprehensive skills strategy to meet skills needs in 2035, estimated before the end of 2025.