13,500 join Jobs Army to protect recovery from staff shortages
BRITAIN’S “Jobs Army” has been boosted in a bid to help people into employment and ensure the country’s recovery is not held back by more staff shortages, according to work and pensions secretary Thérèse Coffey.
Ms Coffey acknowledges that some industries have been hit hard by a shortage of workers but said the US and Germany are facing similar challenges.
The Department forwork and Pensions has now recruited 13,500 “work coaches” to match people with vacancies and is also helping jobseekers gain the skills they need to enter the workplace.
Last week, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey voiced concerns about worker shortages. this came amid anxiety that they are causing the recovery to falter.
Job vacancies soared past one million for the first time on record in July and the CBI has called for the Government to make it easier to recruit workers from abroad, such as butchers, lorry drivers and welders.
Ms Coffey said: “The economy is bouncing back from the pandemic but we know there are some industries that are seeing a shortage of workers.
“We are not alone here though, with similar challenges being faced by Germany, the USA and many other countries.
“As part of our multi-billionpound Plan For Jobs, our Jobs Army – which we have boosted with an extra 13,500 work coaches – is helping to match jobseekers with record numbers of vacancies and help people gain the expertise and confidence they need to move into and progress in work.
“And through our expanded network of Jobcentres across the country, we are responding to the needs of recruiting employers. It is not always the case that jobseekers’ skills match what that vacancy needs but we are helping with that too by giving training – through SWAPS, our sector-based work academy programme – with a guaranteed interview.
“By being the bridge between jobseekers and employers, Jobcentre teams across the UK are pulling out all the stops to get people back into work and earn more – whether that is by increasing their hours or getting a new qualification for a new job.
“Through the successful delivery of our Plan For
Jobs, we are helping people fulfil their potential, move into work and progress in their careers, and changing people’s lives every day.”