Good Work Monitor Spotlight - Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
Authors: Harry Rawlinson, Harry Pitts, Eleni Papagiannaki
Key points
- Cornwall's progress in good work implementation has been notable but remains vulnerable to underlying economic structures; but with strategic interventions, the region could establish itself as a national leader in good work practices for peripheralised economies across the UK.
- Seasonal employment patterns continue to create systemic barriers to sustainable, high-quality work, and low-margin business models across other sectors limit employers' ability to enhance work conditions
- Housing affordability and infrastructure constraints present significant obstacles to workforce development; sustained investment in infrastructure, skills and housing is needed.
Summary
This Spotlight report - produced by a partnership of Cornish academics and business groups and released today by the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW) – focuses work from the Good Work Monitor into the local context of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
It reveals that while Cornwall has made significant strides in implementing good work principles, deeper structural economic challenges must be addressed to ensure sustained and equitable growth and lasting job quality improvements.
It is released to accompany the Disruption Index Spotlight Report that was commissioned as part of the Institute’s Pissarides Review December 2024.
‘Good Work’ is more than employment. It is work that promotes dignity, autonomy and equality; work that has fair pay and conditions; work where people are properly supported to develop their talents and have a sense of community. Research shows that improving access to good work is a key driver of social, health and economic progress.
The Good Work Monitor examines six dimensions of good work across all 203 local authorities on this island. Drilling down into the local data for the regions, the challenges and opportunities of improving access to good work in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly are able to be surfaced.
Using case studies and local expertise, it outlines Cornwall's labour market dynamics and highlights significant progress that has been made in access to good work, but how seasonal fluctuations and market conditions remain obstacles to faster change.
Authorship and funding note
This spotlight report was written by Harry Rawlinson and Harry Pitts of the Institute of Cornish Studies, University of Exeter, and for IFOW, Elena Papagiannaki of Edinburgh Napier University. Data analysis for IFOW’s 2024 Good Work Monitor was prepared by Elena Papagiannaki, and findings were written by Anna Thomas MBE, Jonathan Clarke and Kester Brewin.
The University of Exeter was commissioned to deliver the EVOLVE FUTURES project on behalf of the Growth Hub, funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Cornwall Council has been chosen by Government as a Lead Authority for the fund and is responsible for monitoring the progress of projects funded through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. EVOLVE FUTURES is delivered through the University of Exeter in partnership with Cornwall Chamber of Commerce and Cornwall Rural Community Charity and aims to improve the opportunities for enterprises across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly that aspire to good growth and to accelerate their development through the provision of expert business support. Many thanks to Kirsten Whiting for her support with the EVOLVE FUTURES project.