Education or employment support won't shift outcomes unless we create good, high paid jobs in the same places. To reduce regional inequalities, we need coordinated action across skills, jobs, transport, housing, local institutions... And we needed it 20 years ago. 3/3
ifs.org.uk/articles/tac...
One striking insight was youth mobility. Graduates tend to leave areas with weaker economies, moving to areas with better opportunities and higher wages. While young people with fewer qualifications stay. Over time, this drains local skills and deepens both social and economic divides. 2/3
Sharing this excellent (and depressing) @theifs.bsky.social research “How can policy tackle regional inequalities?”
The research is clear: early inequalities shape young people’s prospects for decades. Places facing low wages and weak employment twenty years ago are still in the same position. 🧵1/3
Why now?
💰UK Government plans to devolve employment support (worth up to £47m annually)
💰Welsh Government is consulting on the £547m Local Growth Fund
Together, Welsh Gov has the levers and funding to act. We invite you to join us in turning this vision into reality. @learnworkcymru.bsky.social 4/4
But targets alone won’t deliver change.
We’re calling for a Work, Health and Skills Plan – a roadmap for investment and integration across these areas.
To succeed, we must tackle inequalities faced by:
🔹 Disabled people
🔹 Women
🔹 Ethnic minority groups
along with addressing regional disparities.
3/4
Wales faces a persistent employment gap with the rest of the UK. And has the lowest employment rate of any UK nation.
Our ambition:
✅ At least 75% of working-age adults in work
✅ Close the employment gap with the UK within 10 years
➡ That means 60,000 more people in work.
2/4
New report launched today: Work, Health, and Skills in Wales.
Wale faces stubborn labour market challenges. The report looks at the scale of economic inactivity , who it affects most, and sets out practical steps to make sure no one is left behind.
🧵 1/4 www.learningandwork.wales/resources/re...
@learnworkuk.bsky.social is celebrating JobsPlus in Birmingham today, with our delivery partners, housing associations, community champions and evaluation partners.
This is the first opportunity for all our partners to come together in person and put learnings from year one into action. #JobsPlus
Keen to find out more about our JobsPlus pilot programme?
We’re holding a webinar on Tuesday 16 September, 3.30-4.30pm, that will showcase lessons learned from the early stages of the programme. Hear from those delivering JobsPluson the ground.
learningandwork.org.uk/events-2/job...
If you want to know more 👋reach out! I'd be happy to share more on the pilot, what we're seeing and the opportunity it presents. And watch this space for the interim evaluation findings from Institute for Employment Studies, coming soon 👀
Modelled on a successful US approach, JobsPlus is being trialled in 10 sites across England. And we see the potential for it to shape future national and local policy on employment support. National and local government are all grappling with integrating support - JobsPlus is an excellent test case.
🏘️ JobsPlus is a new model of place-based employment support, delivered in housing association communities across England. Led by @learnworkuk.bsky.social, the programme offers intensive, wraparound support through local hubs—no eligibility barriers.
learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
🧵@learnworkuk.bsky.social is leading a pilot of community-led employment support programme, JobsPlus, which is making a real impact.
📈 Over 700 people engaged
💼 150 already in work
❤️ Many heartwarming stories of lives changed
You can find more info in our PR here: www.fenews.co.uk/education/mo...
We’re calling for ambition:
✅ NEET rate below 10%
✅ No young person NEET for more than a year
✅ Tailored support for all 16–24 year olds
✅ Delivered through joined-up, accessible services
You can read more about our Vision for the Youth Guarantee learningandwork.org.uk/resources/re...
Gender matters too. The rise in NEETs this quarter was driven by young women, up by 25,000. Young women who are NEET are more likely to be economically inactive, often due to caring responsibilities. To reach the an 80% employment target, targeted action to reduce economic inactivity is needed.
Age matters. NEET rates among 21–24 year olds remain worryingly high: between 15.0% and 16.2%. Yet this group is currently excluded from the Government’s Youth Guarantee, which targets 18–21 year olds. This group is at risk of being left behind, with long-term consequences for their futures.
🧵 New ONS data reveals another increase to NEET rates—especially for young women and those aged 21–24. I'm making my first foray on Bluesky to share my thoughts! The stats show 948,000 young people in the UK are not in education, employment or training (NEET). That’s 12.8% of all 16–24 year olds.