The government's Plan for Jobs is focused on protecting, supporting and creating jobs in North West Norfolk and across the country. Here James writes about how it is supporting people into work locally.
"Many people will remember the iconic “Labour isn’t working” poster from the 1979 general election campaign. That powerful image conveyed the importance of tackling unemployment and people having a job, as work is the best route out of poverty and to provide families with security.
When the economy was essentially paused due to the pandemic, my major concern aside from the health crisis was the potential increase in unemployment. In previous global economic slowdowns such as the financial crash in 2008-9, long term unemployment rose significantly. That’s why the government put in place over £350 billion to protect jobs and businesses. The Plan for Jobs had at its core the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This supported 11.6 million jobs across the UK including more than 10,000 in North West Norfolk with
The latest data shows that so far the Plan is helping people back into work, to develop skills to move into higher wage roles, or to retrain. Unemployment has fallen for six consecutive months and it is expected to peak at half the level the Office of Budget Responsibility predicted last July. The UK rate is lower than in the US, Canada, France, Spain, and Australia. Job vacancies are now at a record high as employers look to take on new staff. And with the lifting of the Covid restrictions we are predicted to have the highest growth in the G7 major economies this year and next.
But people have lost their jobs and young people have been unable to take their first steps into the jobs market. 2,185 people on Universal Credit or legacy benefits in North West Norfolk are seeking work and it is very important to help them move into jobs.
Given the importance of this issue, I spent time last week at the Jobcentre Plus in Lynn talking to the District Manager for East Anglia and the local team. They are focused on helping people to move into jobs and working with employers who are looking for staff. Many of the people I spoke to were Work Coaches and their number has doubled nationally to provide extra support. They are an incredibly motivated group who offer personalised, intensive support to help people move back into work. During lockdown the face-to-face contact they could have with their clients has been limited but the new Jobcentre Plus in Broad Street will provide increased capacity to allow that vital personal support.
Under the Kickstart scheme, young people at risk of long-term unemployment can benefit from a six-month role and the opportunity to develop new skills and crucial experience. Around 100 young people have been placed so far with more opportunities available. Local employers are offering a range of roles in sectors including social care, hospitality, engineering, digital, and healthcare. Importantly, in a number of cases Kickstarters have been hired into full time roles once their six-month placement ended.
Certain sectors are facing shortfalls including hospitality, horticulture, construction, and haulage. Through the Sector-Based Work Academy, people can get pre-employment training, work experience, and a guaranteed interview. This scheme is a partnership between employers, training providers, and Jobcentre Plus who are keen to talk to firms in sectors facing shortfalls. The crisis has also meant that long-term unemployment increased after a sustained decline. I heard how effective the Restart scheme is for people who’ve been unemployed for more than 12 months utilising expertise from specialist providers, charities, and small firms to help people undertake training and move into work.
On 27 October Jobcentre Plus’ Jobs Fair will be taking place. If you are interested in taking part then please drop me a line and I’ll put you in touch with the organisers."
More detail on the Plan for Jobs is available here
