The UK government is unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at boosting employment and reducing welfare costs, coinciding with Labour leader Keir Starmer's commitment to address the skills crisis affecting job vacancies in the country. Employment Minister Alison McGovern highlighted that one in eight young people are currently not in work or education, contributing to a staggering nine million people who are economically inactive, with 2.8 million on long-term sickness benefits [b3e3e3ab].
In response to these challenges, the government has introduced the 'Get Britain Working' white paper, which aims to tackle the root causes of unemployment and support individuals in finding jobs [b3e3e3ab]. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), emphasized the importance of breaking down barriers to opportunity, which aligns with Starmer's plans to create Skills England to bridge the skills gap [07289dd9].
Starmer's initiative, which aims to kickstart young people's careers and provide businesses with a skilled workforce, will work alongside the government's efforts to modernize health and disability benefits to better support employment [b3e3e3ab]. The establishment of Skills England is intended to collaborate with various stakeholders, including local governments and businesses, to understand and address the skills shortages that have more than doubled in recent years [07289dd9].
Additionally, the government plans to vote on the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to prevent tobacco sales to individuals born from 2009 onwards, as part of a broader strategy to improve public health and support a healthier workforce [b3e3e3ab].
As both the government and Labour Party outline their strategies to enhance employment opportunities and address the skills crisis, the focus remains on creating a more inclusive and productive workforce in the UK [07289dd9][b3e3e3ab].