Government funding totalling £30 million has been set aside to get the large proportion of people in Northern Ireland not actively looking for work into the labour market.
Provided by the departments for both economy and communities under the New Deal initiative, the money will be used to address the economic inactivity rate, those of working age who have not sought work and are not available to work. According to NISRA, it is generally made up of students, people looking after family and home, long-term sick and disabled, temporarily sick and disabled, retired people and discouraged workers.
Northern Ireland’s economic inactivity rate has remained the highest of all UK regions for the last 15 years. It peaked at 31% in 2009 at the peak of the financial crisis, much higher than the UK average peak of 24%, and although it has come down to 25.8% in the latest reading, it is still above the UK average of 21%.
Successive Executives have attempted to bring the economic activity rate down, but with limited success. It is hoped the latest collaborative attempt will bear fruit.
The funding will bring the two departments together along with further and higher education institutions and employers to “create a compelling offer which will help remove barriers to employment and unlock the economic and societal potential of people who are currently economically inactive”.
Through the StepUp programme, the Department for the Economy will lead on skills and education-related interventions aimed at increasing / widening participation, particularly from those most at risk of experiencing economic inactivity.
In parallel, the Department for Communities will lead on progressing proposals to address economic inactivity through the JobStart scheme.
Invest Northern Ireland will support the work of both Departments through its ties with the Northern Ireland employer and business base and will harness the expertise of its client-facing teams to secure commitment and engagement from employers.
“This funding from the UK Government provides us with a significant opportunity to enhance the life chances of people who have found it difficult, for a range of reasons, to engage in skills and education provision,” Graeme Wilkinson, Director of Skills at the Department for the Economy, said. “The funding will give many more young people and adults the opportunity to participate in supportive provision, which will be delivered in a tailored, individualised way, and includes mentoring, to help those who need it most to take that step in a new journey of learning and skills attainment.”
Director of Work and Wellbeing at the Department for Communities, Deirdre Ward, also welcomed the funding.
“I am delighted to be able to work together with the Department for the Economy to deliver on our objective of ‘more people in better jobs’,” she said. “The funding from the UK Government will make a real difference in helping unemployed young people to overcome the challenges they face and provide the practical support needed to build their confidence and skills and so maximise their long-term employability perspectives.”
