A joined-up approach to sustainable employment
Anew agenda that commits all aspects of government to work together, from education to transport, to help people secure sustainable employment has been unveiled by the Welsh Government.
It comes after Skills and Science Minister Julie James has been given a mandate by cabinet to lead on employability across the Welsh Government.
The joined-up approach forms part of the Welsh Government’s Taking Wales Forward commitment to reshape employability support for job-ready individuals and those furthest from the labour market to help them acquire the skills and experience needed to gain and maintain sustainable employment.
And as part of that commitment the Welsh Government is developing an employability delivery plan and associated programmes, which will connect and join up with a range of government policies.
The Minister said that steps are already being taken to introduce new measures to support the development of the delivery plan.
This includes establishing a new cross-Welsh Government board to lead on the development of the plan.
The plans will be delivered before the end of this year, with the aim for the new delivery programmes to come into effect next spring
Ms James said: “We have seen significant improvements in the employment rate in Wales over recent years. There are now over 1.4 million people in employment in Wales.
“Whilst Welsh Government’s contribution to the positive overall rate of employment, supported with EU funding, should not be underestimated, we know the story is not a wholly positive one and we must do more to support the economically inactive, those who would like to work longer hours and those in insecure employment.
“Indeed, addressing employability has been a key element of our discussions through the Valleys Task Force, but we also recognise there is a sense of urgency to bring jobs and growth to communities across Wales that need more of both and that is exactly what we hope to achieve by reshaping our employability support.”
Between now and next April the Welsh Government will reconfigure its existing programmes to enable a smooth transition, using the Valleys as a test bed to inform the new delivery approach.
Amendments to existing employability programmes, including the EU-funded ReAct, Jobs Growth Wales and the Employability Skills Programme, will be made to ensure that these are effectively aligned to the new offer to enhance support for unemployed people and those who churn in and out of temporary, poorly-paid employment.
Ms James said: “We are keen to promote prosperity for all so that the benefits of economic growth are shared by all those in work. This includes ensuring that we reach those furthest from the labour market and provide them with a holistic package of personalised, bespoke and intensive support and mentoring to reduce complex barriers to employment, tackle levels of economic inactivity and deliver on our ambition of developing prosperity for all. We can only truly achieve this through better-aligned support brought about by working effectively across government.
“If we are to shape a new employability agenda, we need to drive a coherent approach across Welsh Government and with our partners to address the many barriers preventing people from entering and progressing in good-quality, fair employment.
“This approach will benefit individuals across Wales and deliver the prosperous and secure future that we need to Take Wales Forward.”