Employability and inclusion Archives - Page 2 of 9 - North East Local Enterprise Partnership

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Chief Executive, Helen Golightly OBE, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data updates on key indicators within the Strategic Economic Plan. Today’s release includes quarterly data for the North East region (for the period April to June 2022). The region includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The data released today shows little change from the position last month. There has been a small increase in the working age employment rate over the last quarter, but a small decline in total employment for all age groups. More working age people have joined the labour force and are looking for work, which has led to a small rise in the unemployment rate, alongside a slightly larger decrease in the economic inactivity rate.

“Nationally, the labour market appears to be slowing. There is some evidence of a decline in the high rate of vacancies in the economy, with a particular impact on recruitment amongst small businesses employing fewer than 50 people.

“But the main focus at the moment will be on standards of living. PAYE data which has been released today, shows that the region’s median employee pay continues to increase at a similar rate to nationally, at a time when costs of living in areas like energy and food are increasing, leading to a real terms decrease in regular pay of about 3%.

“We can surmise that the relatively static situation in the labour force is caused by ongoing uncertainty in the economy, with employers and employees waiting to see how the economic situation changes and how public policy develops in response. Without intervention, we can expect a difficult economic situation for local communities and businesses over the coming months with increasing prices impacting on costs, investment and employment.”

Access all the latest labour market information on the North East Evidence Hub.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Strategy and Policy Director, Richard Baker, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The data updates on key indicators within the Strategic Economic Plan. Today’s release includes quarterly data for the North East region (for the period March to May 2022). The region includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley.

Richard Baker, Strategy and Policy Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The data released today shows that recent employment trends in the North East region have continued to improve, with an additional 11,600 people in employment compared to the previous quarter and a larger increase in the employment rate than nationally.

“The statistics also show a decrease in the region’s economic inactivity rate during the last quarter that is larger than nationally, and a continuing high level of labour market demand. However, there remains a challenge to ensure the North East labour market is working for all age groups with younger and older workers not securing employment at the same rate as other groups.

“PAYE data shows that the region’s median employee pay is increasing at a similar rate to nationally (up by 5.3% in the year to May 2022), which is faster than the pre-COVID trend, but tracking below inflation.

“Whilst it’s encouraging to see positive changes continue into this quarter, our economy continues to face challenges, particularly around the tightness of the labour market for employers and cost of living for residents. We can expect continuing volatility over the coming months and there will continue to be a need for support for business in navigating these headwinds and for families and communities facing increasing prices.”

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s chief executive, Helen Golightly OBE, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). Today’s release includes quarterly data for the North East region (for the period February to April 2022). The region includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley.

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The data released today paints a slightly more positive picture than the last month with an additional 10,500 people in employment. We have seen improvement in the employment rate across the country and it’s encouraging to see the North East moving at a slightly quicker rate than the national average in this period.

“Older and younger men and women of all ages were the groups who re-entered the labour market during this quarter.

“We should however approach this month’s data with caution as the labour market remains volatile as the economy faces significant challenges with large increases in inflation and the cost of living continuing to rise. It is likely that these factors will have an impact on the labour market in months to come and we must continue to monitor these changes closely and respond accordingly.”

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership’s chief executive, Helen Golightly OBE, has commented on today’s regional labour market statistics, released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Today’s statistical release includes quarterly data for the North East region (for the period December 2021 to February 2022). The region includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley Combined Authority area.

Also included in the release are statistics for the North East LEP area and its local authorities for the calendar year of 2021.

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This month’s figures show the position in the North East economy is largely unchanged from the last quarter.

“There has been a recent small increase in the number of people working in the region, with about 2,300 more people in employment than in the previous quarter, and there was also a decrease of 4,900 in unemployment. However, the working age employment rate has fallen slightly, suggesting that much of the employment increase was among workers aged 65 plus.

“The North East employment rate remains the lowest among the nine English regions, with the unemployment rate and working age economic inactivity rate both being the highest. The latter measures the number of people not in work or actively seeking employment.

“And progress in the past year has not matched other areas of the country. As we recover from COVID-19, the North East is the only region with a significantly lower employment rate than a year earlier, and the largest increase in the economic inactivity rate over the period.

“Looking at local data for the last year, employment in the North East LEP area decreased more for women than men, and we have seen increases in economic inactivity across all working age groups in the North East. There has been a large growth in numbers citing looking after family or home as a reason for inactivity.

“However, there is an opportunity to do more to benefit the economy and boost employment, with employers continuing to report demand in the labour market and difficulties in recruitment.

“Energy prices, along with a range of other price rises, are going to increase costs for families and we urge government to focus invest into the North East to encourage more progress in the labour market.”

“Against a very challenging backdrop of rising costs for people and businesses, and declining growth rates and living standards, Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s announcements will help relieve some of the pressure in areas like fuel prices and employee costs, and local authorities will have more money to help vulnerable people. He also announced spending to support small businesses with employment costs and business rates, which we welcome.

“However some of the big investments which could have accelerated growth in the North East will await the Budget. We also expect to see more detail on regional policy issues, including detail on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, later in the year.

“We look forward to learning more about the planned consultation on areas including skills support, the apprenticeships levy, innovation performance and capital allowances for investment. These are important areas for focus if we are to see sustained long term growth.”

Richard Baker, Strategy and Policy Director at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership

Today’s statistics cover the North East region, which includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley Combined Authority area. The headline rates cover the period October to December 2021.

“Today’s statistics give us a post furlough picture for the first time. They show that there wasn’t significant disruption at the end of the furlough scheme, but the North East continues to struggle, particularly because of rising levels of economic inactivity where people have left the labour market and are no longer looking for work.

“We have seen a decrease in unemployment, which would usually be good news as it means that there are fewer people looking for work, but in the last year, instead of moving into employment, people looking for work have moved into the economically inactive category.

“The latest data does not show the reasons for increased inactivity, but it does highlight a particularly large decrease in employment among North East women in the last year, which is concerning.

“The number of people claiming unemployment related benefits in the North East LEP area shows a monthly rise that is 6,000 higher than at the start of the pandemic. It’s the first time we have seen a rise since February 2021.

“We should also be concerned as this data reflects the trajectory in other recent data. The latest regional export data for Q3 2021 saw the value of North East exports decline for the third consecutive quarter. North East exports are now 7% lower than they were two years ago.

“We urge government to strongly focus its levelling up agenda on the needs of the North East. It is clear that whilst many other regions are moving ahead as they recover from COVID-19, the North East continues to face labour market challenges.

“We believe levelling up the economy is the right thing to do, but the time is now to invest in the places that need it the most.”

A young trainee has been offered a permanent role after completing a six-month placement at a North Tyneside community garden.

TJ Ferguson, who is 23 and lives in North Shields, has been appointed as Community Garden Assistant at Meadow Well Connected.

His new role involves gardening, horticulture and landscaping projects in Meadow Well Connected’s 5.5-acre community garden. He also supports adults with additional needs to use the garden and works with pupils from local schools who have additional needs or are disengaged from mainstream education.

“TJ fitted in well with the garden team from the outset. He’s a hard worker and is keen to get involved with work that helps the environment and supports his local community. We created this new role to ensure we could continue to employ TJ beyond the end of his Kickstart placement as he’d made such a valuable contribution to our community garden,” said Mandi Cresswell, Chief Officer, Meadow Well Connected.

“I really enjoyed my placement in the garden at Meadow Well Connected. I’ve been given chances to learn new skills, increase in confidence and work alongside lots of different people. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to continue to work here as every day is different but always fun and rewarding,” said TJ Ferguson, Community Garden Assistant.

Meadow Well Connected is one of 14 voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations in the North East which were awarded funding from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme, which aims to help communities across the North East recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The funding was used towards the regeneration of the community garden and to help provide training for young people in landscaping, biodiversity and horticulture.

TJ’s training took the form of a six-month Kickstart placement – part of a government scheme to support 16 to 24 year olds into work.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East LEP, said: “The aim of this funding is to support VCSE organisations in creating stronger, greener communities and helping to give people the skills they need to reach their full potential.

“TJ starting a new career and becoming part of a valuable hub like Meadow Well Connected is a brilliant example of what local communities and VCSE organisations are achieving across our region.”

Find out about other projects funded by the Local Growth Fund VCSE Capital Grant programme here.

“Today’s statistics cover the North East region, which includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley Combined Authority area, and covers the period September – November 2021.

“Today’s statistics make for difficult reading. The North East region’s latest employment rate was at 70.5%, which is by far the lowest in England. We’ve seen consistently over the previous three quarters that the number of people in work has fallen and that the number of people who have left the labour market and are categorised as economically inactive has increased. Significantly, the unemployment rate – this is people who don’t have a job, but are actively looking for work – has increased to a level that exceeds London, something we’ve not seen since September 2020.

“We are doing further analysis of these figures to understand the detail behind these changes, but it is clear that whilst other regions are moving ahead as they recover from COVID-19, the North East continues to face labour market challenges.

“We are expecting the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper to be published and it is clear that this is increasingly urgent to better understand how Government want to work in partnership with the North East to support us with our economic recovery to address these gaps and avoid further economic imbalance.”

“Today’s statistics cover the North East region, which includes the North East LEP area and Tees Valley Combined Authority area.

“For the third month in a row we have seen a decrease in the employment rate, meaning there are fewer people in work, but more significantly, an increase in the economic inactivity rate, which is the number of people who have left the labour market and are not actively looking for work. This has increased more than any other English region and the gap between the North East and the next English region (Yorkshire and the Humber) is significant.

“The North East region has an additional 33,000 working age people who are inactive compared to the same period in 2020. Recent increases in inactivity have been particularly large among the youngest workers, but there have also been increases among those aged 35 to 64.

“There is more work to do to understand the detail behind these changes, but it is now apparent that because the North East region has the highest inactivity rate across all regions in England, we need to work with government to ensure a swift implementation of the Skills White Paper and to ensure the Levelling Up White paper is published and progressed early in 2022 with no further delays.”

Category: Employability and inclusion

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