PLANS for the biggest reforms to employment support in a generation will see every young person in Essex earning or learning, as the number of unemployed reached 305,000 across the East of England region.
Visiting a Jobcentre Plus in Grays on Thursday (28 November), Jen Craft MP welcomed the Government’s plans to Get Britain Working, backed by £240 million of national funding.
The plan will see Jobcentres overhauled to deliver a more personalised service to jobseekers, with a focus on coaching and employment support – kickstarted by £55 million of investment.
Discussing these reforms with staff at the Jobcentre Plus, Jen Craft MP heard about the need to encourage young people to access skills training in the area, as apprenticeship starts have dropped by a third in Thurrock since 2015.
In the most recent skills survey, one in ten employers in Essex reported a vacancy they were unable to fill due to a lack of skills and qualifications among applicants. There were 19,7000 skill-shortage vacancies reported cross Essex, a fifth higher than the proportion nationally.
As part of the Government’s plans, local leaders in Essex will be given the power and funding to develop plans to join up work and health in their area and upskill the workforce. This will include a national Youth Guarantee, which will see every 18-21 in England given access to an apprenticeship, quality training and education opportunities, or help finding a job.
To support more people back to work, the Government will deliver a new supported employment programme for people who are economically inactive. This will include a review to consider how employers can recruit and retain employees with a health condition or disability.
Speaking at the Jobcentre Plus, Jen Craft MP said:
“These employment reforms will make a real difference to people in Thurrock and across Essex.
“By supporting jobseekers to overcome barriers to work and ensuring young people have opportunities to access education and training, we can turn the tide on rising unemployment and give everyone the benefits of a good, secure job.
“I’m delighted that the Jobcentre will play a central role in these plans, supporting people in Essex to match their ambitions with the needs of local employers. As I raised in the House of Commons this week, it’s vital that disabled people are supported to enter and stay in the workplace, and I was pleased to hear about their work in this space.”
