1 / 23

The UK Labour Market and Free Movement

The UK Labour Market and Free Movement . Peter Sydserff EURES UK Manager Reykjavik 22 June 2007. UK has one of the best labour markets in the world. Workforce Jobs.

shellie-fisher
Download Presentation

The UK Labour Market and Free Movement

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The UK Labour Market and Free Movement Peter SydserffEURES UK ManagerReykjavik 22 June 2007

  2. UK has one of the best labour markets in the world..

  3. Workforce Jobs • There were 29.01 million in jobs in the UK in April 2007, an increase of 87,000 since April 2006, and an increase of 2.5 million since 1997. • 79% of workforce jobs are in services; 12% in manufacturing; 7% in construction, with the rest in agriculture, fishing, energy and water.

  4. Employment and Unemployment • Employment rate is 74.3% (down 0.7% in 2 years) • Unemployment rate is 5.5% flat • But still growth in jobs (nearly 640,000, up by 54,400 in year)

  5. But the picture was not always as rosy

  6. An ageing society In 2007 the number of people over State Pension Age is greater, for the first time, than the number of children 80% employment aspiration This would mean 2.5 million more people in work than today Lone Parents Employment up 10% - nearly 300,000 more in work We need to ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach all sections of society Deprived areas Ethnic minorities People without qualifications Hardest to help Jobcentre Plus – Key Policy Challenges

  7. 80% Employment Aspiration This would mean 2.5 million more people in work than today: • as many as 300,000 more lone parents in work • as many as 1 million fewer people on incapacity benefits • 1 million more older workers and people working past state pension age • would make it make it significantly easier to support an ageing population

  8. Incapacity Benefit – Reform Principles • Pathways to Work Pilots • Re-build system based around the strong work aspiration • Holistic approach based around 5 Key principles: • Early skilled intervention • Better specialist support covering health & employment needs • Making sure work clearly pays • Change focus to capacity not incapacity • Not just about Incapacity Benefit and Jobcentre Plus

  9. How does Jobcentre Plus fit in? • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was created to give the government a delivery arm to tackle these key issues • Jobcentre Plus was created within DWP bringing together Employment Service and the Benefits Agency • The biggest change on welfare and employment provision in 60 years Our purpose is “Work for those who can, support for those who cannot”

  10. Most people leave the unemployment register quickly • Around 60% of unemployment benefit claimants leave the register within 3 months • Around 80% leave within 6 months • Around 90% leave within 9 months • Around 95% leave within a year

  11. The job market is changing: • 880,400 people claiming benefits (1.68 million ILO rate) • Highest recorded employment levels in both real and percentage terms - but slight fall of late • Our future challenge is to help those customers who have been out of the job market for a long period of time • Jobcentre Plus is committed to making a real difference to their lives

  12. Changing customers…changing channels Face to face Telephone E-channels Now • Vacancy search • Vacancy placement Future • Benefit claims • Benefit enquiries • CV Bank • Advisory service • First contact • Employer Direct • Benefit information • Benefit claims

  13. Accession and the UK • A8 Nationals (The new 10 less Cyprus and Malta) • A2 Nationals (Bulgaria and Romania) • 630,000 Applicants to the Workers Registration Scheme • Since 1 May 2004 (49,000 since 1 January 2007) • Little demand on Welfare System or Public Services

  14. Accession and the UK • 97% of applicants are working full time • 82 % between 18 and 34 • 93% have no dependants with them • Only 4% had dependants under 17

  15. Accession and Geography • 25% of workers in London in mid 2004 • But only 13% at the end of 2006 • West Midlands and Anglia regions now attracting • most workers (14/13% of total)

  16. Nationality of Applicants • 71% Polish (447,000) • 9% Slovakian (56,700) • 7% Lithuanian (44,100) – 50% less • 4% Latvian (25,200) • 4% Czech (25,200) • 4% Hungarian (25,200) • 1% Estonian (6,300) – 75% decrease • 0.5% Slovenian (340)

  17. Types of Jobs in 2006 • 43% Administration, Business and Management • 17% Hospitality and Catering • 9% in Agriculture • 7% Manufacturing • 5% Food, Fish and Meat Processing • 4% Healthcare • 4% Retail • 4% Construction

  18. But…………. • Numbers of Workers in Administration, Business and Management now 43% (up 17% since mid 2004) • Decrease in Hospitality and Catering down from 31% in mid 2004 to 17% at end of 2006

  19. Access to Benefits • 3,106 applications for Income Support • 6,289 for Jobseeker’s Allowance • 1,590 allowed to claim

  20. A8 and Homelessness • Growing concerns about Homelessness • 4,700 rough sleepers on the streets of London - 600 A8 • Typically over 40, unskilled, poor English language skills

  21. Conclusion • Welcome addition to UK labour force • UK labour market needs to grow by around 2.5 • million jobs • But, tensions between finding jobs for long term • unemployed and migrants.

  22. Jobcentre Plus Peter Sydserffpeter.sydserff@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.ukJobcentre PlusInternational and Public RelationsLevel 1, Rockingham House, 123 West Street, Sheffield, S1 4ERTel: + 44 114 259 6240

More Related