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30th June 2025
 
THE HOT STORY
Entry-level jobs slide since ChatGPT launch
Analysis by jobs search site Adzuna shows that the number of new entry-level jobs has fallen by 31.9% since the launch of the AI tool ChatGPT in November 2022. The report highlights that entry-level posts now account for just a quarter of the overall jobs market, down from 28.9% in 2022. James Neave, head of data science at Adzuna, said: "If you can reduce your hiring at the entry level, that’s just going to increase your efficiency and improve cost savings."
HIRING
British Chambers of Commerce says tax hike has hit hiring hard
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has said 13% of more than 570 member firms it surveyed had cut jobs and 19% were actively weighing such a move following April's increase in employers' National Insurance Contributions. "We were unprepared for the huge burden placed upon us, and it led many of us to rethink our growth plans," BCC Director General Shevaun Haviland said ahead of the group's annual conference. "As a result, our business confidence measures have fallen to their lowest levels since 2022."
HEALTH & WELLBEING
See a physio, quit the fizzy drinks: employers intervene to stem ill-health exodus
Companies are filling the gap left by the NHS in a bid to keep staff at work, and UK government ministers are hoping more employers will invest in preventive services.
STRATEGY
Nissan Sunderland could cut 250 jobs
Nissan is looking to cut about 250 jobs from its UK factory as part of a global shake-up amid weak sales. A spokesperson confirmed a voluntary leave scheme opened to shop floor and office staff at the Sunderland plant last week. Manufacturing staff will not be affected by the move, which is intended to "support efficiency." The car manufacturer employs about 6,000 workers in Sunderland.
WORKFORCE
Early retirement sparks £31bn brain drain warning
Analysis from Standard Life's Centre for the Future of Retirement shows that an average of 437,000 over-50s left the workforce before state retirement age each year between 2019 and 2024. Of these, around half took early retirement, 49,000 left citing health issues and 170,000 quit for other reasons, including care duties and redundancy. The study found that key growth sectors had a higher early retirement rate than the rest of the economy. Patrick Thomson, head of research analysis and policy at the think-tank, said: "The UK's economic future will be driven by these high-growth sectors, but relies heavily on the experience of over-50s. Yet we're at risk of letting them slip away." The analysis suggests that early retirement across Britain's most important growth sectors is costing the economy £31bn a year.
Newcastle University strike concludes after four months
After nearly four months of strike action, Newcastle University academics have reached a settlement with management. The University and College Union (UCU) initiated the strike in March due to a proposed £20m reduction in the wage bill, which could have resulted in around 300 job losses. The university confirmed that it achieved its savings target without compulsory redundancies, primarily through voluntary severance and redeployments.
University lecturers threaten industrial action
Garry Ross, national officer of the Educational Institute of Scotland University Lecturers' Association (EIS ULA), has warned of "widespread disruption" if university lecturers proceed with industrial action over a "derisory" 1.4% pay offer. The EIS ULA is conducting a consultative ballot, open for six weeks until August 11, urging members to reject the offer, which they claim represents a "real-terms pay cut." Ross said: "This 1.4% offer is not just disappointing, it is derisory and does not reflect the dedication and expertise of our university lecturers."
Retailers face pressure over pay transparency
As high street retailers prepare for their annual general meetings, activists are calling for greater transparency about employee pay. ShareAction has proposed resolutions for both Marks & Spencer and JD Sports which will be voted on at their AGMs. The resolutions seek to disclose the number of employees earning below the real living wage, which is £12.60 per hour nationally. Pensions & Investment Research Consultants (PIRC) supports the resolutions.
REMOTE WORKING
Magistrates banned from delivering remote justice
Magistrates in the UK have been prohibited from conducting court work while abroad amid concerns about their presence in foreign jurisdictions. His Majesty's Courts and Tribunals has issued guidance in the latest Magistrates' Legal e-Newsletter, saying: "Magistrates should not take part in any court work as magistrates from outside the UK or UK dependencies."
LEGAL
Public sector urged to act on gender definition ruling
Sir Keir Starmer has called on public sector bodies, including hospitals and universities, to swiftly implement the Supreme Court's ruling regarding gender definitions. The court clarified that "woman" and "sex" in the 2010 Equality Act refer specifically to biological women and sex. The Prime Minister said: "We've accepted the ruling, welcomed the ruling, and everything else flows from that as far as I'm concerned."
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
620k company directors are working beyond retirement age
Around one in ten company directors are working past the state retirement age, according to research by Bowmore Financial Planning. The analysis, which is based on Companies House filings, shows that the number of company directors in the UK aged 67 or older has reached 620,000. The data shows that 445,000 company directors are over the age of 70, while 105,000 are over 80. Charles Incledon, client director at Bowmore Financial Planning, said: "Many company directors haven’t yet saved enough for a comfortable retirement. It’s forcing many of them to work longer than they’d ideally like."
INTERNATIONAL
Dutch worker absences due to 'bore-out' rise five-fold
The number of sick leave days taken by workers in the Netherlands linked to so-called bore-out, a workplace condition precipitated by prolonged boredom and a loss of motivation, increased five-fold from 2021 to 2024, according to the occupational health service Arbo Unie, which observed: “We see that companies and organisations, for example in business services, frequently hire young people who, despite good salaries, carry out relatively simple work. When they do this for a long time, the work becomes boring, leading to bore-out.” Absenteeism due to burnout has also increased, but at a much lower rate - 28% since 2021.
Colombian labour reform delivers significant increase in worker protections
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has enacted a significant labour reform aimed at enhancing worker protections. The law introduces measures such as increased overtime pay and medical coverage for gig workers. However, the reform has faced criticism from business leaders, who claim it could lead to job losses and increased costs for small businesses. Despite these concerns, trade unions and Petro's allies have welcomed the changes, which aim to address inequality in Colombia's workforce. The law's passage follows a challenging legislative process; Petro had to compromise on several provisions to secure approval.
Germany struggles to attract skilled workers from Africa
Germany faces a significant challenge in attracting foreign skilled workers, despite initiatives including the Opportunity Card and the revamped Consular Services Portal. The Bertelsmann Institute's 2024 study indicates that Germany requires between 288,000 and 400,000 foreign skilled workers annually to avoid a worker shortage by 2040. However, bureaucratic hurdles and high rejection rates for visa applications, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa, hinder progress. Clara Bünger from The Left Party highlighted the issue, noting that in 2022, over 3,400 student visa applications from Nigeria were denied. Teresia Träutlein, who runs a care service agency, emphasised the need for improved processes to attract talent, saying: "If the government wants to attract skilled workers to Germany, then it needs to support German language training abroad."
 


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