The Economy Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, to discuss issues surrounding casual and insecure employment, the progress of the Work and Skills Strategy, and to review the committee's work programme. Key recommendations were made regarding the development of digital inclusion indicators and the consideration of ethical AI use in future reports.

Casual Labour, Insecure Employment and Employment Rates in Manchester

The committee reviewed a report detailing the prevalence of casual and insecure employment in Manchester. The report defined insecure work as encompassing roles with a higher risk of job loss or unstable hours, pay, and conditions. While acknowledging that such arrangements can suit some individuals, the report highlighted the difficulties faced by those who do not freely choose these conditions and struggle to secure adequate income or career progression.

Discussions revealed that Manchester's labour market is strong, but employment rates do not always reflect job security or adequate pay. Between April 2025 and March 2026, Manchester's employment rate was 5%, with an economic inactivity rate of 22%. The committee noted an increase in economically inactive students, while those caring for family and the long-term sick saw a decrease. Initiatives like the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter and the Real Living Wage were discussed as key strategies to improve employment standards.

Members raised concerns about scaling up these initiatives, the potential impact of decarbonisation efforts on employment, and whether ethical procurement policies deterred businesses. The lack of granular, localised data on insecure employment was a significant point of discussion, with the Director of Inclusive Economy noting that obtaining more precise local data would require substantial investment in research. The committee was advised that the Employment Rights Act 2025 is expected to strengthen worker protections, with a likely grace period for implementation. The Growth Company highlighted its involvement in apprenticeships and study programmes for 16-17 year olds, and the Director of Inclusive Economy confirmed that bespoke job fairs and targeted employment support were being delivered in areas with the highest unemployment rates, such as Moss Side. The committee requested a future report on how the council supports self-employed and freelance workers.

Decision:

To request a report outlining how the Council supports self-employed and freelance workers, including the levers and opportunities available to influence outcomes in this area.

Update on Work and Skills Strategy

The committee received an update on the delivery of the Work & Skills Strategy 2022-2027 for the period April 2025 to March 2026. The strategy aims to enhance Manchester's talent pool and labour market to support business growth and investment. The report highlighted the city's increasing economic productivity and outlined key challenges and opportunities, including economic inactivity due to health conditions and youth unemployment.

Progress was noted in areas such as the GM Business Growth Hub and Invest Manchester's success in securing investments and creating jobs. The committee discussed the need to measure the Strategy's benefits by ward, ethnicity, age, and deprivation, and how elected members could assist with data collection. Concerns were raised about the sufficiency of the WorkWell programme to address health barriers to employment and the lack of data on green skills.

The Director of Inclusive Economy confirmed that discussions were ongoing with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Department for Education (DfE) regarding post-16 capacity, as demand was forecast to exceed current provision. The committee was informed about the support available for self-employed workers through the Business Growth Hub and the Business Intellectual Property Centre. The Council's commitment to addressing unemployment was reiterated, with an emphasis on strengthening existing provision and improving data-sharing arrangements with the DWP and Jobcentre Plus to better track resident outcomes.

Decision:

To recommend that the refreshed Work and Skills Strategy includes a focus on supporting the development of a green jobs and skills pipeline for young people, enabling Manchester residents to benefit from employment opportunities arising from the city's transition to a zero-carbon economy.

Overview Report

The committee reviewed the Overview Report, which included the recommendations monitor, key decisions, and the committee's work programme. Members expressed concern about the volume of items scheduled for future meetings and suggested deferring some transport-related reports from the December agenda. The Governance and Scrutiny Support Team Leader agreed to discuss this with officers. A suggestion was also made to include a report on support for self-employed and freelance workers in the November meeting, which the Director of Inclusive Economy agreed to explore.

Decision:

To note the report and agree the work programme, subject to the above comments.