CBI calls for better pay and opportunities for employees

As the recovery takes hold, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) is calling for better pay and training opportunities for employees.

In a New Year message, CBI director general, John Cridland, says: “As the financial situation of many firms begins to turn a corner, one of the biggest challenges facing businesses is to deliver growth that will mean better pay and more opportunities for all their employees after a prolonged squeeze.”

In 2014, Mr Cridland expects most firms to see an increase in the size of their workforce with wages picking pick up as growth beds down and productivity improves.

However, he believes there are still far too many people stuck in Minimum Wage jobs without routes to progression, saying: “The future of the UK economy is undoubtedly higher-value and higher-skill, so training is critical to helping people move onwards and upwards, and key to our national success, particularly when it comes to delivering an effective industrial strategy.”

A sneak preview of the CBI’s new growth indicator, which will officially launch at the end of January, suggests the recovery is broad-based and continues to gather pace.