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UK Edition
5th January 2026
 
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THE HOT STORY

Decline of Saturday jobs 'leaves youth unprepared for work'

The decline of Saturday jobs has left many young people ill-prepared for the workforce, according to Labour's employment adviser, Alan Milburn. Official statistics show that fewer than 20% of 16- and 17-year-olds are employed, down from nearly half a decade ago. Milburn, who is reviewing the issue of "Neets" - young people not in education, employment, or training - highlighted that many teenagers now lack the work experience and skills once gained through part-time jobs, which he said instilled discipline and responsibility. The review will also examine successful approaches in countries such as Australia and the Netherlands, which combine tailored job placements with reduced reliance on benefits to improve youth employment prospects.
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WORKFORCE

Degree not a 'passport to social mobility'

Professor Shitij Kapur, the Vice Chancellor and President of King's College London, has told the Guardian that a university degree is no longer a "passport to social mobility" in the UK due to the country's "surfeit" of graduates, with a degree now acting more like "a visa for social mobility - it gives you the chance to visit the arena that has graduate jobs and the related social mobility, but whether you can make it there is not a guarantee." Rising competition for graduate roles, he suggests, "is not just all because of AI filling out forms or AI taking away jobs. It's also because of the stalling of our economy and causing a relative surplus of graduates."
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ECONOMY

AI set to boost the economy

Artificial intelligence is projected to significantly boost the UK economy, adding £2bn to GDP this year, according to PwC. By 2029, this contribution could rise to £7bn, reaching £23bn by 2032. PwC's UK chief economist, Barret Kupelian, noted that AI could account for 43% of GDP growth by 2032. He suggested that the UK may look to focus on internal growth rather than relying on international trade, commenting: "Reducing economic inactivity and increasing productivity will become much more important levers to grow the economy."
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REMUNERATION

Scottish councils pay £63m in 'golden goodbyes'

Scottish councils have reported significant spending on exit packages for high earning officers, with so-called 'golden goodbyes' totalling £62.6m since 2022. The latest figures show that payments for high-earning employees have surged, with £28.1m spent in 2023/24 alone. North Lanarkshire Council led the spending at £15.4m, followed by Glasgow City Council at £11.3m.
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DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

The 30% Club targets more female bosses

Pavita Cooper, chair of the 30% Club, says the lack of female chief executives in the FTSE 100 will be a key area of focus for the campaign group, observing: "It doesn't feel like there's enough momentum around a conversation about this - We want to reignite that." Despite an increase in female board representation from 12.5% to 44% since 2010, the number of female CEOs has only risen from five to eight. A recent report produced by the Women in Work campaign group revealed a decline in female CEOs across 400 companies analysed, from 45 in 2024 to 43 in 2025. Of the 48 chief executive vacancies advertised in this period, half of the women leaving roles were replaced by other women. However, when male CEOs left their roles, 90% were replaced by men. Cooper, whose new campaign aims to see 30 women leading FTSE 100 companies by 2030, has emphasised the need for a collective effort to address cultural barriers preventing women from pursuing these roles. 

Number of women barristers in UK Supreme Court cases fails to increase in 17 years

Female barristers constituted 23% of advocates presenting cases at the Supreme Court in 2025, up from 21% in 2024 but down on 2009, when it was created, according to Financial Times analysis.  
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

Is Ozempic shaping the workplace?

Offering staff GLP-1 weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro has the potential to improve productivity and reduce time lost to sickness, writes Emma Jacobs in the Financial Times. 
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TECHNOLOGY

AI chatbots are biased against dialect speakers

Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, found that large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT exhibit significant bias against speakers of various English dialects. In their study, dialect speakers received 18% worse stereotyping, 25% more demeaning content, and 15% more condescending responses compared to standard English speakers. Emma Harvey, a PhD student at Cornell University, noted that as LLMs become more prevalent, they may amplify existing biases. The study suggests that custom LLMs tailored for dialects could improve user experience and reduce discrimination.
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INTERNATIONAL

Job seekers turn dating apps into networking tools

Job seekers are increasingly using dating apps such as Hinge to network and find job opportunities amid a challenging employment market. Tiffany Chau, a student, adapted her Hinge profile to connect with potential employers, leading to valuable networking experiences. About a third of dating app users in the US said they had sought matches for job hook-ups, according to a ResumeBuilder.com poll. Stacie Haller, ResumeBuilder.com's chief career advisor, observed: “People are doing it to expand their networks, make connections, because the best way to get a job today is who you know . . . Networking is the only way people are rising above the horror show that the job search is today.”

UniCredit and unions agree on staffing deal

UniCredit has signed a deal with banking union FABI and other trade unions including First, Fisac, Uilca and Unisin to manage employee turnover through voluntary exits and new hires. All 484 employees currently suspended under early retirement schemes until 2031 will be able to access the sector's redundancy fund on a voluntary and incentivised basis. Italy's second-biggest bank is also to recruit 436 people under 30 on professional apprenticeships leading to permanent contracts, and hire an extra 4% of staff annually between 2026 and 2028 under the Abi Protocol aimed at supporting female victims of violence. FABI coordinator at Unicredit, Stefano Cefaloni, said: "We express our satisfaction on the issue of attention to women victims of violence, a topic of absolute and dramatic topicality."

Increased relocation requests in Israel's tech sector

Israeli technology professionals are increasingly seeking to relocate abroad due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The Israel Advanced Technology Industries Association (IATI) warned that the trend could jeopardise the country's innovation capabilities, although many firms still maintain stable operations. IATI CEO Karin Mayer Rubinstein remarked: "Even during the difficult war, the Israeli high-tech industry . . . proved its resilience and its ability to lead in innovation and creativity."

Hong Kong accounting firms plan hiring spree

KPMG, Deloitte and EY are expanding their respective workforces in Hong Kong, as they aim to attract new accountants while integrating artificial intelligence to enhance efficiency. Andrew Wong, partner at KPMG China, said: "We do not believe AI is a replacement for humans," as he highlighted that AI in fact complements human roles. Derek Lai from EY noted that AI tools are essential for attracting young talent, especially in debt restructuring, where efficiency is crucial.
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OTHER

Junk food ad ban takes effect

From today, junk food adverts will be banned on television before 9pm and online at all times as part of the government's bid to tackle childhood obesity. The restrictions target high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) products - including soft drinks, sweets, pizzas, and ice cream - while allowing promotion of healthier versions to encourage recipe reformulation. The ban, enforced by the Advertising Standards Authority, is intended to prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity and comes amid rising concern over NHS costs and poor health outcomes linked to early exposure to unhealthy food marketing.
 
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