Unemployment figures update

This week I received a letter from David Gauke, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in which he passed on the latest employment figures. Unemployment is down a further 75,000 on the previous quarter and is at its lowest rate since 1975. Youth unemployment is also down 40% since 2010. It has now dropped below 5% for the first time thanks to this government’s commitment to getting young people into work or further education.

 

This is fantastic news for the economy and also for us right here in Norwich. On Wednesday 27September, I will be launching Phase Three of the Norwich for Jobs project with the rest of the Steering Group at Norwich Job Centre Plus. Continuing earlier successes from Phases 1 and 2, the focus of Phase 3 is to halve unemployment and disengagement for young people across all benefits.

 

Phase 3 will have a particular aim to engage every young person on Jobseekers Allowance and get them back into work.

 

Since I founded the campaign in 2013, the local business community and Norwich for Jobs partners succeeded in our first goal - to halve the youth unemployment rate in Norwich - and achieved so much more besides, including helping disabled young people into jobs too. So now we are challenging ourselves to halve youth unemployment a second time!

 

I have included a copy of the Secretary of State’s letter with this post. If you would like to know more about Phase Three of Norwich for Jobs, or feel that your own business may be able to offer a young person a chance of a better future, please do come down to the launch event at Norwich Job Centre Plus on Wednesday between 1300 and 1500 to find out more.