Author: Info MTW

Unemployment benefits by constituency

Please click here to read the research briefing. 

This paper provides figures for the number of people claiming unemployment benefits (the ‘claimant count’ for the UK and by parliamentary constituency.

The unadjusted claimant count was 1.54 million in May 2023, which was 13,600 less than the month before, 38,400 less than in May 2022 and 306,000 more than the pre-pandemic quarter of March 2020.

Following the start of the pandemic, the claimant count more than doubled while the rise in unemployment was much smaller. This was partly due to changes in Universal Credit eligibility, and partly due to people being temporarily away from work or earning less because of the pandemic.

Since the beginning of 2021, both measures have decreased, with the claimant count decreasing more rapidly than the unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is now back to pre-pandemic levels, while the claimant rate continues to be higher.

 

 

Centre for Social Justice Analysis reveals over 700,000 on sickness benefits

The Centre for Social Justice have published survey analysis revealing that more than 700,000 sickness benefits claimants would like to work with the right support.

However, of this group, 53% are reticent about exploring work due to concerns that they wouldn’t get their benefits back if it didn’t work out.

73% do not believe anyone would employ them due to their health condition and 72% feel their health condition fluctuates too much.

Measures in the Health and Disability White Paper to reform assessments and offer tailored support to achieve work ambitions are welcomed but the think tank say the anticipated rollout of 2029 is too far away – urgent changes are needed now.

Not only would this address the rise in economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, it would also tackle labour shortages and provide £7bn of savings in benefit payments and taxes, helping to boost the UK’s growth.

The think tank supports the roll out of Universal Support to address complex barriers and help people get into work. It calls on Treasury to accelerate UC managed migration so that ESA claimants can receive additional support into work.

The think tank suggest the Government should create an ‘Into Work Guarantee’, providing commitment that claimants trying to work will be supported and able to return to their health-related benefits without assessment should their condition worsen.

Key point raised: targeted support is needed now to help sickness benefit claimants into work – an ‘Into
Work Guarantee’ would give claimants confidence to proceed.

 

Please click here to read the full report. 

Youth Unemployment Statistics

Please click here to see the June release of Youth Unemployment Statistics.

This paper presents the latest statistics on youth unemployment in the UK as well as comparisons with other EU countries.

There was a small increase in youth unemployment in the latest quarter as previously inactive young people returned to the labour market and a larger increase in the number of employed young people, with
youth employment increasing above pre-pandemic levels.

Recent trends in Youth Employment
After reaching a peak of 22.5% in 2011 following the 2008 financial crisis, youth unemployment rates fell
until the start of the pandemic to 12.3% in January to March 2020.

Youth unemployment did initially rise after the outbreak of the pandemic, with the youth unemployment rate reaching a high of 14.9% in July to September 2020. The levels of youth unemployment were 15% higher in that quarter than they were pre-pandemic.

Since then, youth unemployment has been steadily falling. There were 67,000 fewer unemployed young people in February to April 2023 compared to January to March 2020, a 13% fall. The youth unemployment rate has fallen from 12.3% to 10.9% during this period.

Remembering Sir Ivan Menezes

We are incredibly saddened to hear of the passing of Diageo Chief Executive and Trustee of Movement to Work, Sir Ivan Menezes.

With his deep passion for equality and inclusivity, Sir Ivan was a great supporter of Movement to Work and our mission, including being a Trustee and the Chair from 2017 to 2020.  Despite all the other callings on his time, his commitment never wavered and he made a huge contribution to the Movement’s scale and impact. We are very grateful to Sir Ivan for his support and counsel over the years.

On behalf of all at Movement to Work, we send our deepest condolences to Sir Ivan’s family, friends and colleagues.

SMEs and the mental health challenge

The recruitment crisis in some sectors arguably provides a means of nudging businesses to pay attention to ‘pull factors’ that could attract job applicants, such as showing concern for staff wellbeing.

According to HR news concerns about staff mental health are ‘keeping UK SMEs up at night’ with one in seven SMEs identifying the mental health of their workforce as one of their top three threats. This topic is on the government’s agenda.

Click here to read IES’s blog.

Diverting women from a life of crime

Thousands more vulnerable women caught up in crime will benefit from drug, housing, and employment support to get their lives back on track thanks to a £15 million government funding boost.

This investment has been awarded to 40 women’s centres and charities, and four Police and Crime Commissioners to provide or access specialist help to those who commit lower-level offences.

These organisations help female offenders to get clean, move away from abusive relationships, and find work and stable accommodation ultimately reducing the £18 billion overall cost of reoffending to the taxpayer.

Click here to read more!

£165 million launched to transform local skills

Local employer skills gaps are to be addressed with a funding boost to transform training and grow the economy.

Local communities across the country are set to benefit from a share of £165 million to transform skills training in their area and help get more people into jobs closer to home.

Further education providers are invited to apply for cash from the Local Skills Improvement Fund, which will be used to renovate facilities with up-to-date equipment, help to upskill teachers, and deliver new courses in key subjects such as green construction, carbon capture and cyber security that meet the needs of local employers.

This means that wherever there are skills black holes, they will now be filled.

Click here to find out more!

Social Mobility Employer Masterclass and Data Explorer Tool

Employers play a key role in social mobility outcomes for many. They determine where they set up their business, the types of job roles they create, and how and who they recruit – but understanding the issue across the UK is challenging.

On June 7th @12-12:45 the Social Mobility Commission are delivering a masterclass for employers on how they can play a key role in social mobility.
They will also be launching and demonstrating how to use their new Data Explorer Tool. This will enable employers to gain an understanding of what targeted social mobility activity could work in different areas.

 

Click here to register: https://bit.ly/3WDAfrj

Inflation continues to fall

Overall inflation rate is slowly falling due to changes in energy prices, with the annual inflation rate dropping to 8.7% in April, after 7 consecutive months of it being over 10%.

Economists expect the inflation rate to continue to fall for the rest of 2023.

This doesn’t mean that prices are falling, but that prices are going up less quickly.

 

Click here to find out more: https://bit.ly/45Euvl5