The Economy Scrutiny Committee of Manchester City Council met on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, to discuss casual labour, insecure employment, and the city's Work and Skills Strategy. The committee requested a report on support for self-employed and freelance workers and recommended that the refreshed Work and Skills Strategy focus on developing a green jobs pipeline for young people.

Casual Labour, Insecure Employment and Employment Rates in Manchester

The committee reviewed a report detailing the prevalence of casual and insecure employment in Manchester. Insecure work was defined as employment with a higher risk of job loss or unstable hours, pay, or conditions. While acknowledging that such arrangements can suit some individuals, the report highlighted the challenges faced by those who have not freely chosen these conditions and struggle to secure adequate income or career progression. Manchester's labour market was described as strong, with an employment rate of 74.9% between April 2025 and March 2026, and an economic inactivity rate of 22%. However, employment rates do not differentiate between secure and adequately paid work.

Discussions from the committee included queries about scaling initiatives to promote good employment practices, the potential for employment and skills opportunities arising from the Council's decarbonisation efforts, and whether Manchester's status as a Living Wage City and its ethical procurement policies might deter businesses. Members also questioned how to collect more granular, localised data on insecure employment and the anticipated impact of the Employment Rights Act 2025. The Director of Inclusive Economy noted that engaging sectors like retail and hospitality remains a challenge, but there is an ambition to expand this work. The Growth Company's Employment Services Director confirmed that many employers they work with pay the Real Living Wage, even when only reimbursed up to the national minimum wage. The committee was informed that while precise local data on insecure employment is costly to obtain, national surveys estimate 18% of workers in the North West are in insecure employment.

As a result of this discussion, the committee decided 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 and Skills Strategy 2022-2027 for the period April 2025 to March 2026. The strategy aims to strengthen Manchester's talent pool and labour market to support business growth. The report highlighted Manchester's increasingly productive economy, but also noted challenges such as economic inactivity and inequalities in labour market participation. Key activities and progress included work by the GM Business Growth Hub and Invest Manchester. The committee discussed the need to measure the benefits of the strategy by ward, ethnicity, age, and deprivation. Concerns were raised about health conditions being a significant barrier to employment and the sufficiency of the WorkWell programme.

The Director of Inclusive Economy noted that while the Council commissions targeted programmes, more granular data on impact across different demographics would be beneficial. The Strategic Lead for Work and Skills (People) highlighted that additional health-specific employment support schemes are in operation, including the forthcoming Worklessness Programme, and that Manchester is collaborating closely with Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) on integrated employment support for patients. Discussions also covered the expansion of post-16 provision, with capacity potentially becoming an issue by 2030. The challenges in developing a pipeline of green skills were acknowledged, with ongoing work to align training with employer demand. The committee was informed about support for start-ups and self-employed residents through initiatives like the Business Growth Hub and the Generator workspace.

Following this discussion, the committee decided 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 an overview report containing key decisions within its remit, responses to previous recommendations, and the committee's work programme. A member suggested deferring some transport-related reports from the December agenda due to concerns about the volume of items. The Governance and Scrutiny Support Team Leader agreed to discuss this possibility, noting that the Greater Manchester Transport Strategy needed to be considered in December to meet required timescales. It was also suggested that a report on support for self-employed and freelance workers be submitted to the November meeting, which the Director of Inclusive Economy agreed to explore.

The committee decided to note the report and agree the work programme, subject to the above comments.