Work and Pensions Secretary MP will today confirm the Government's commitments to
its manifesto Back to Work plan, and say tackling economic
inactivity is central to the Government's number one mission of
growing the economy [Thursday 11 July].
The visit comes days after the Chancellor, MP, unveiled the Government's
first steps to securing sustained economic growth as the only
route to improving the prosperity of the country and the living
standards of working people.
Ms Kendall said rising levels of economic inactivity are
unacceptable and that immediate action must be taken. 9.4 million
people are now economically inactive, a record 2.8 million people
are out of work due to long-term sickness, and 900,000 young
people (1 in 8) are not in education, employment, and training.
On her first visit as Secretary of State, with the rest of the
Ministerial team, MP will confirm the three pillars of the Government's
Back to Work plan:
- A new national jobs and career service to help get more
people into work, and on in their work.
- New work, health and skills plans for the economically
inactive, led by Mayors and local areas
- A youth guarantee for all young people aged 18-21.
Work and Pensions Secretary, MP, said:
“Growth is our number one mission and, as the Chancellor said,
our Back to Work Plan is central to achieving our plans.
“Economic inactivity is holding Britain back – it's bad for
people, it's bad for businesses, and it's bad for growth.
“It's not good enough that the UK is the only G7 country with
employment not back to pre-pandemic levels.
“It is time for change in every corner of the country.
“We'll create more good jobs, make work pay, transform skills,
and overhaul jobcentres, alongside action to tackle the root
causes of worklessness including poor physical and mental health.
“Change delivered by local areas for local people, driving growth
and delivering opportunity and prosperity to everyone, wherever
they live.”
Earlier this week the Health Secretary set out how cutting NHS
waiting lists will get Britian back to health and back to work,
and how by taking bold action on public health we can build the
healthy society needed for a healthy economy.
Under the DWPs' plan, Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers
Service will be merged to get more people into work and to
support those seeking better opportunities with the means to find
better paid work.
The Youth Guarantee will mean more opportunities for training, an
apprenticeship or help to find work for all young people aged
18-21 years old, to prevent young people becoming excluded from
the world of work at a young age.
More disabled people and those with health conditions will be
supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to
local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and
skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.
On their visit to Leeds today [Thursday 11 July] the DWP's new
ministerial team will visit a jobcentre to see first-hand how
they're supporting people with health conditions, and those aged
18-24 and over 50.
They will then be joined by , West Yorkshire Mayor. They
will visit Smartworks – a charity who work to build the
confidence of clients and help prepare for interviews by
providing free clothing ahead of interviews.
