Spring 2006

HIGHLIGHTS

Welcome
New Publications
News
Latest Research

Dear colleague

Welcome to this first issue of Futureskills Scotland e-news, which follows the launch of our new, easy-to-use website. Having spent our first few years establishing a sound research base, we are keen to ensure that the findings and key messages from our work are accessible and straightforward to use for the people who need them.

The aim of this newsletter, which will be published on a regular basis, is to keep you up to date with the latest news and research from Futureskills Scotland, and to make it as easy as possible for you to access our reports. We are moving towards a web-based approach, where we will keep you up-to-date via this newsletter about our latest research. All of our reports will, of course, continue to be available to read and download from our relaunched and revamped website (visit www.futureskillsscotland.org.uk to find out more) and we’ve improved the format by publishing summaries and shorter versions of our publications.

I do hope you enjoy this first edition. Please let us know – using the “contact us” button above - what you think of the newsletter. We would welcome your suggestions and comments.

Best wishes,
Stephen Boyle
Director, Futureskills Scotland

What’s happening to graduates in the Scottish labour market?
The Labour Market for Graduates in Scotland
Futureskills Scotland asked the Institute for Employment Studies (IES) to investigate the graduate labour market over the last ten years. Using official data sources, they looked at how much graduates earn; the type of jobs they do and the sectors that they work in, to see whether there have been any changes.
Click here to read the findings.

Expert Briefings
This series provides a fresh expert perspective on some of the labour market issues facing Scotland today. Speakers so far have included Professor Francis Green of the University of Kent, Professor Steve Fothergill from Sheffield Hallam University, and Chris Humphries CBE, Director General of City and Guilds.
View the current expert briefing papers here »

Futureskills Scotland Annual Report 2005
The second annual report from Futureskills Scotland was published in January 2006 and sets out our workplan for 2006.
Read more »

New-look Futureskills Scotland website launched
Based on user feedback, we have changed the appearance and navigation of the site to make it easier to use so that you can find the information you are looking for quickly.
Click here to view it.
Your comments and feedback are welcome.

Minimum wage to rise in October – who wins, who loses?
The UK government has accepted the Low Pay Commission’s recommendation that the National Minimum Wage should rise to £5.35 per hour in October 2006.
Click here to read an information note on the changes.

Crisis, What Crisis? Scotland's Population is Rising
Scotland's population is rising. The latest figures show that between 2001 and 2005 it increased by 31,000 (0.6%). In 2004-05, it rose by 16,000.
Click here to view the new figures from the General Register Office for Scotland.

Futureskills Scotland review approach to forecasting
We have recently reviewed the way we look at tomorrow's labour market in Scotland as well as today's, particularly our Employment Projections.
Click here to read our summary report.

Coming soon……
Following on from the review of the type of information we provide about the future labour market, we will soon publish our latest set of Employment Projections. Read more in the next issue of this newsletter.

What’s new on Research Online
Research Online is a tool to provide easier access to labour market research. Like all Futureskills Scotland resources, this
service is free of charge.

Reports added to Research Online recently include: