Work can and should be a force for good that benefits people and societies as much as it benefits business and the economy. At the CIPD, we believe that all jobs have the potential to be better and we should aspire to making good work a reality for all.
Explore our resources to gain insights into measuring job quality and creating value at work.
Reports
Research and analysis by experts from CIPD and partner organisations
9 Reports about Job quality
Reports
Working Lives Scotland
Dedicated analysis of job quality and its impact on working lives in Scotland
Reports
CIPD Good Work Index – North of England
A North of England summary of the CIPD Good Work Index 2023 survey report
Reports
CIPD Good Work Index
The CIPD Good Work Index provides an annual snapshot of job quality in the UK, giving insight to drive improvement to working lives
Reports
Working Lives Northern Ireland
Dedicated analysis of job quality and its impact on working lives in Northern Ireland
Reports
Megatrends: Is work in the UK really becoming less secure?
This report challenges the notion that work in the UK is getting less and less secure
Reports
The road to good work: discussion paper
This discussion paper addresses why we need a quality of work strategy and how we can create one
Reports
Megatrends: Are we working harder than ever?
This report reveals that we are experiencing greater workloads and pressures to meet deadlines, customer demands and performance targets
Reports
Megatrends: The trends shaping work and working lives
The purpose of this report is to highlight some of the key trends that have been shaping our economies and the world of work
Case studies
Learn from real world examples of how other people professionals and organisations work with the CIPD to approach key challenges and objectives.
22 Case studies about Job quality
Case studies
Good Work Stories
Read our case studies from different people in different professions to understand how we can make work better for everyone.
Case studies
My Working Life: Contact Centre Advisor
Hear from Contact Centre Advisor, Sheena, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Funeral Operative
Hear from Funeral Operative, Dean, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Project Manager – Adoption Charity
Hear from Project Manager, Nigel, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Prison Treatment Manager
Hear from Prison Treatment Manager, Briony, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Audio Equipment Engineer
Hear from Audio Equipment Engineer, John, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Care Worker
Hear from Care Worker, Alex, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Warehouse Team Leader
Hear from Warehouse Team Leader, Eric, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Musician
Hear from Musician, Darren, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Parish Clerk
Hear from Parish Clerk, Emma, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Police Constable
Hear from Police Constable, James, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My Working Life: Nutritionist
Hear from Nutritionist, Elsa, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My working life: Paramedic
Case study from Paramedic, Stuart, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My working life: Housing Association area manager
Case study from Housing Association Area Manager, Liam, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My working life: Equality, diversity and inclusion manager
Case study from an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Jacquie, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My working life: Livestock farmer
Case study from Livestock farmer, James, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My working life: Heavy goods and heavy plant driver
Case study from Heavy Goods and Plant Driver, Fraser, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in his experience
Case studies
My working life: HR administrator
Case study from HR Administrator, Caroline, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My working life: Head chef
Case study from Head chef, Melissa, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My working life: Pharmacist
Case study from Pharmacist, Amina, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
My working life: Secondary school teacher
Case study from secondary school teacher, Sarah, on the highs and lows of working life and the different ways that job quality plays out in her experience
Case studies
Championing good quality work across London: GLA
Case study on championing good quality work across London
Thought leadership
Insight and foresight from our experts in people and the world of work
13 Thought leadership about Job quality
Thought leadership
Fair work and working lives in Scotland in 2023
Marek Zemanik analyses the CIPD’s newly published Working Lives Scotland 2023 report
Thought leadership
Calling Britain's best (and worst) bosses
How much difference does people management quality make when it comes to being a good boss? Mark Beatson reviews this question by drawing on the CIPD’s recent report, ‘The importance of people management: Analysis of its impact on employees’
Thought leadership
Where have all the workers gone?
Jon Boys reflects on his recent appearance in front of the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee, where he presented his evidence to answer the question: ‘where have all the workers gone?’
Thought leadership
Better work, better care?
Mark Beatson’s article discusses the issues that employees in the social care sector are facing
Thought leadership
Working Lives Northern Ireland
Marek Zemanik’s article reflects on our new Working Lives Northern Ireland report, which focuses on job quality in Northern Ireland
Thought leadership
Working Lives Scotland June 2020
New CIPD research shines a light on job quality in Scotland
Thought leadership
How can we build good work beyond COVID-19?
Rachel Suff considers CIPD's latest Good Work Index report and highlights the need for employers to improve how they manage and support the wellbeing of their staff
Thought leadership
Coronavirus and the workforce: low pay does not equal low value
The coronavirus pandemic makes it clearer than ever that the roles we need most as a society are not necessarily the ones we value. This must change.
Thought leadership
Devolution and public policy: Scotland leading the way
Marek Zemanik – Senior Public Policy Adviser in Scotland, looks into the key areas of work CIPD Scotland will be delving into this year, examining fair work, skills and productivity
Thought leadership
What does the new UK Government mean for CIPD’s policy work?
Paddy Smith examines how the political landscape has changed since December’s general election, with a majority government now in place, and what this means for the public policy work of the CIPD
Thought leadership
How do organisations create ‘good work’ for atypical workers?
Ben Willmott discusses new CIPD guidance on managing an atypical workforce and invites readers to share their experiences to shape guide
Thought leadership
The meaning of work
How do we find meaning in work? Are there meaningless jobs? How much of a role do managers play in helping people find meaning in their work?
Evidence review
Evidence reviews enable you to ask the critical questions and use evidence for better decision-making.
1 Evidence review about Job quality
Evidence review
Impact of artificial intelligence, robotics and automation technologies on work
Adds evidence to the ongoing debate on how emerging technologies are shaping the world of work and the arising ethical issues
Bitesize research
Your regular overview of current research, inspiring insights and cutting-edge ideas in bitesize
13 Bitesize research about Job quality
Bitesize research
The ethics of meaning and purpose at work
The ethical implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for meaningful work
For Members
Bitesize research
Is your virtual team SMART?
The importance of focusing on the work design of virtual teams to make them more effective
For Members
Bitesize research
Post-pandemic employee retention: Lessons from the UK furlough scheme
Why keeping people in work through times of crisis should be a key goal of HR practice
For Members
Bitesize research
Are ‘green’ jobs good jobs?
Lessons from the UK and EU to inform labour market transitions
For Members
Bitesize research
Addressing skills gaps and poor job quality among disadvantaged groups
Employers and job seekers alike can benefit when they collaborate to develop training and employment opportunities through local skills eco-systems
For Members
Bitesize research
A good gig?
Assessing the quality of gig work and the importance of the lived experience
For Members
Bitesize research
Working to live, not living to work
Achieving work–life balance for multiple job holders
For Members
Bitesize research
Boundaryless careers in the gig economy
Explore the boundaryless career perspective
For Members
Bitesize research
Measuring UK job quality
Using ONS statistics to evaluate job quality across the UK
Bitesize research
Making a living or making a life?
Find out the impact of work-life balance practices
For Members
Bitesize research
Is your job useful to society?
Read more about the authors' findings here
For Members
Bitesize research
Job quality: the importance of occupational class
Discover the effect of occupational class on job quality
For Members
Bitesize research
How to create good work for blue-collar workers
See how blue-collar work is changing
For Members
Policy engagement
Our calls for action.
2 Policy engagements about Job quality
Policy engagement
Calling for an Autumn Statement that drives economic growth and supports better work and working lives in the UK
Read the CIPD’s November 2023 submission to His Majesty’s Treasury
Policy engagement
CIPD Manifesto for Good Work
We’re calling on the UK Government to create a long-term workforce strategy centred on skilled, healthy and fair work
Learning
We offer a range of evidence-based courses tailored to suit you and your needs.
Our Essential Insights courses are free as part of the CIPD membership.
Define meaningful work and recognise its importance at multiple levels, demonstrating how organisation design and development contributes to performance and job quality.
