2.8 million people out of work due to ill health or disability
1 in 8 young people not in education, employment or work
Too many people trapped in low paid, poor quality work, with little prospect of improving their lot in life. Of those in low in pay in 2006, only one-in-six escaped it a decade later.
Ms Kendall spoke of the “employment opportunity unleashed for all” as part of the government’s long-term ambition to reach 80 per cent employment, with better quality of work, and higher earnings, through enabling local leaders to tailor schemes to get people people back into work.
The Pathways to Work Commission was launched in July 2023 to examine the disparities between those recognised as officially 'unemployed' and the 'economically inactive' and to seek solutions to barriers faced by job seekers and employers within the local labour market.
Key findings from the report include
helping anyone who wants to work to find a job will need national changes. These will need to include a national strategy to raise labour market participation, more devolution to empower places like Barnsley, and fresh expectations of employers across the country. It will also include looking afresh at parts of our health, education and benefits system.
Targeted support for people that have been out of work and would like to re-enter the jobs market in Barnsley. This would focus on building capacity so that more people can be supported effectively. There’s a key opportunity to identify and address barriers to support locally.
One-to-one professional support for people who need help to achieve their goals. The support is built on a therapeutic relationship that helps people to address barriers and realise their potential. This support will help people to find and access opportunities that are right for them.
Innovating with businesses to build training and roles to create more opportunities for people who’ve been out of work for some time. This will help to build the skills, employability and work readiness of residents, while incentivising and de-risking recruitment for businesses.
Data and intelligence-led approaches will aid performance monitoring. This should be integrated into current reporting arrangements to reduce duplication and administrative burden on providers.
A focus on prevention to support people before they fall out of work will help to make the approach sustainable. This will also help to ensure that young people stay in education, training or work after they finish school.
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