In his bi-weekly column for The Times, IEA Director General Mark Littlewood argued that trade unions and legislators have failed to adapt to the UK’s dynamic and flexible labour market.

Workers value flexibility, and are more likely to hold two or more jobs in areas like the gig economy. This means outdated trade unions, which purport to represent the interests of workers with often confrontational strike action, will fail to attract new members.

Mark said: “Amazingly, fully two thirds of those in the labour market say they would like to start their own business to run alongside their present job. Those that do so are likely to find themselves as a worker for some part of the week and a boss for the rest, which is not a mix that fits neatly into the trade unions’ rather binary approach to employment“.

Read the full article here.