On Sep. 10, UK GVT outlined action to tackle employment challenge.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) issued an announcement that UK GVT is to take action to tackle the greatest employment challenge for a generation, aiming to address the spiraling economic inactivity, via the new Labor Market Advisory Board.
Action Overview
Experts advising UK GVT on how to tackle the greatest employment challenge for a generation met with Work and Pensions Secretary for the first time on Sep. 9, 2024.
The new Labor Market Advisory Board, appointed by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall MP, consists of business, industrial relations and academia, market experts.
At its first meeting, members offered new approaches to shape government work on economic inactivity, tackling root causes for people remaining out of work like poor physical and mental health, and how can help reach its ambition of 80% employment.
Board will develop ideas and initiatives for Work and Pensions Secretary to consider as she sets about bringing down levels of economic inactivity, with UK as only G7 country whose employment and inactivity rates haven’t returned to the pre-pandemic levels.
As Health Secretary Wes Streeting previously set out, cutting NHS waiting lists will get Britain back to health and back to work. and Board’s first meeting will examine impact of ill-health on inactivity, and how UK GVT can support more people into good work.
The Secretary of State is also expected to outline plans to devolve power to local areas to tackle inactivity with bespoke plans, which are expected in White Paper in autumn.
It will also include the plans for a new youth guarantee for 18-21-year-olds, and the overhauling of all the Job Centers by merging them with the National Careers service.
The Work and Pensions Secretary commented spiraling inactivity is an employment challenge, with near record 2.8mn people now out of work due to long-term sickness.
Addressing the challenges will take time, but we’re going to fix the foundations of the economy and tackle economic inactivity, and the Board’s knowledge and insight will help rebuild Britain, drive up opportunity and make every part of the country better off.
