UK workers

Barclays analysts say labor-market pressures are set to persist as immigration slows and populations age, tightening the supply of workers in many economies. The bank's analysis points to structural worker shortages rather than a temporary squeeze. The report has been picked up by financial outlets including Investing.com and Yahoo Finance UK, feeding into ongoing debate about immigration policy and demographic decline.

Angela Rayner has publicly criticised Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's proposals to make it harder for migrant workers to gain settled status in the UK, warning the plans would "change the goalposts" for people already living and working in the country. The communities secretary and former deputy prime minister stood by her earlier comments on the issue, exposing a rift at the top of the government over immigration policy.

A new report highlights that many workers in the UK are spending significant amounts of their own money on generative AI tools to use at their jobs, rather than relying on employer-provided software. The trend suggests employees see AI as essential enough to productivity that they are willing to personally fund subscriptions and services, raising questions about workplace technology policies and who should bear the cost of AI adoption at work.