Hard to Employ

The Challenge

Recent positive employment figures indicate an encouraging UK situation, yet this masks the significant numbers of people still failing to secure jobs. Even for those in work, many of the jobs are in poorly paid low-skilled occupations and fail to provide individuals with the opportunities available to the rest of our society. Although unemployment follows no set pattern there remain distinct groups severely affected by unemployment issues despite numerous recent initiatives. These include: lone-parents, those suffering from chronic illness or mental health issues, disabled people, members of certain ethnic minority groups, people with low qualifications and skills, people in their fifties, ex-offenders, young people leaving care, the homeless, and people living in areas of weak labour demand (e.g. old mining towns).

For many of these groups, the main barriers to employment are personal and social issues, rather than problems with existing schemes and systems. Issues such as low self confidence or self esteem can hinder the communication of relevant skills in the search for jobs and impact on an individual's uptake of mainstream services. If the existing initiatives are failing to address these issues it is vital that new innovative working practices and new methods are developed. This will enable these disadvantaged groups to access work - greatly enhancing their prospects in society and their participation in the community.