IN the global economy, competition is growing apace. In Wales we have to raise our game and give our people the skills to prosper and achieve.
Since 2001 there has been a major increase in the number of highly skilled and professional jobs available. Naturally that’s good news because it brings opportunities for additional wealth that unlocks talent and improves the lives of families and communities.
The flip side is lower-skilled jobs have been less numerous, making life more daunting for those without qualifications and those who have been outside the labour market for some time.
While we strive for a higher-skilled workforce that punches above its weight in the world, we can’t afford to leave behind those on the edges of the economy.
Although employment is at its highest for a generation, more than a quarter of our working-age population still aren’t involved. They are, to use the official term, economically inactive, and without innovative and determined intervention they may stay on the margins.
Of course some have good reason, as they may have long-term caring responsibilities or disabilities that make it impossible for them to consider jobs.
Others, however, could join or rejoin the workforce if given the right support and encouragement, and it’s vital they get it. That includes some people on long-term incapacity benefits who could work but have lost confidence or currently have few skills to offer. It also includes the 12,000 young people who have fallen through the net and are not in education, employment or training.
Our forthcoming Skills and Employment Strategy lays great emphasis upon working with employers and learning providers to give workers more competitive skills for higher-value jobs.
But it lays equal emphasis upon the task of getting economically inactive people back into work by building their skills and confidence.
We want to see 80% of working age people active in the economy. That is a big challenge but it is achievable.
The route to success is through effective partnerships between the public, private and voluntary sectors.
These partners include the Assembly Government, the UK Department of Work and Pensions, the Sector Skills Councils, Job Centre Plus, local employers and those who work within the third sector. Many of them came together in Cardiff last week to discuss these issues at the Welfare to Work 2008 conference.
The Skills and Employment Strategy envisages all of these partners working together to create a “Careers Ladder” that supports jobless people each step of the way back to employment. It will include:
Initial advice showing people the employment options and helping overcome hurdles, including lack of skills
A personal action plan for getting back into work
An improved incentive programme, such as Flexible New Deal to support people’s individual action plans
Equipping people with the right skills, motivation and attitude for work
Providing job-matching between people in disadvantaged areas and suitable employers
Using Individual Learning Accounts to help people gain specific skills during the early months of new jobs. This is in addition to support with longer-term apprenticeship or other accredited training
It is vital now for the organisations represented at last week’s Welfare to Work conference to form an effective partnership that breaks through the barriers and allows people to share in the higher-value economy of the future.
John Griffiths is Deputy Minister for Skills in the Welsh Assembly Government
Western Mail - 24 April 2008
