A leading HR lobby group has called on the main political parties to create a ‘manifesto for work’ ahead of next year’s general election.

The CIPD, which campaigns on HR and professional development issues, says future governments must address “fundamental” skills and productivity failings to ensure a sustained economic recovery in the UK.

In a key submission ahead of the election, the group is calling for promises to boost productivity and the availability of skilled job-seekers. It wants a long-term people-focused approach to corporate governance and a greater appreciation of how people drive value in organisations.

It is also calling for better guidance for young unemployed people with better enterprise education within the school curriculum and, at the other end of the age scale, a better pensions framework helping people save for retirement.

Peter Cheese, chief executive of the CIPD, said: “The big political agendas going in to the next election will all require a better focus and understanding of the changing nature of work, the requirements and needs of the workforce, and the changing workplace.

“There are long-term, structural challenges facing the UK economy, which is held back by poor productivity, weak skills utilisation, and too much reliance on low skill, low wage work. Our manifesto is a call to all political parties to put forward policy programmes that focus on improving work in all its forms.”