New ONS unemployment figures released
The Office for National Statistics have published unemployment figures which show unemployment to be at 2.638 million compared to the previously published figure of 2.622 million. However, the number of people in work is 38,000 higher than the level published last month.
Latest figures also show a more stable picture on youth unemployment. The number of 16 to 24-year-olds who have left full-time education and are seeking work is 730,000, the same as the figure published last month, while the number of full-time students looking for a job has risen to 297,000.
The figures show that in the past 18 months the number of people claiming one of the main out-of-work benefits has fallen by around 40,000 and over the same period the number employed by the private sector has risen by over 500,000.
Employment Minister Chris Grayling said:
“There has obviously been an unwelcome increase in unemployment since the summer but these latest figures show some signs that the labour market is stabilising. The number of people in employment is higher than last month’s published figure and the number of unemployed people is steadying. Encouragingly this is also the case for young people not in education.
“The increase in those claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance has slowed and our welfare reforms are having a positive impact with overall benefit claimant numbers falling by around 40,000 in the last 18 months.”
There are still economic challenges ahead and the government is reacting by helping people to find employment through initiatives with the private sector.
It was announced in the past month that 160,000 incentives of £2,275 will be available to employers who take on young people in the Work Programme. This is more than enough to cover an employer’s National Insurance contributions for a year and exceeds the recommendations by the CBI in their recent report on youth employment.
The £1billion programme to help young unemployed people also pledged 250,000 extra Work Experience places over the next three years, taking the total to at least 100,000 places a year. The private sector has been vital in the success of this scheme with half of under-25 year-olds taking part leaving benefits within three months.
To support private sector growth the New Enterprise Allowance will help people to become self employed and in turn become employers themselves. The initiative provides a business mentor and offers financial support of up to around £2,000, including a weekly allowance for up to 26 weeks and access to a start up loan. 40,000 new businesses are expected to be created by 2013.
Source
ONS Statistical bulletin
Amanda Frewin
Research & Project Support
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Yes Minister's Blog 
Richard Johnson leaves Serco
Posted in THE GRAPEVINE! news, comment & a bit of gossip, THINK TANK - The Ideas Zone....!!!, Welfare to Work, tagged batman and robin, commissioning, double messages, dwp, FND, impressive figures, pastures new, richard, serco, welfare to work, work programme on December 20, 2011| 4 Comments »
The man, the Myth, the legend.
Richard Johnson has left the stage…..
It is indeed true to say, that under the leadership of Richard Johnson, Serco launched itself financially but more importantly, emotionally into the welfare to work sector.
The Batman and Robin duo of Messrs Johnson and Williams strutted impressive figures on the W2W stage.
Serco made its mark during FND1, however it was during FND2 that Serco did indeed begin to soar like an eagle.
I have to declare an interest here… yesMinister were heavily involved and embedded with the Serco team during FND2.. in fact we were indistinguishable and fitted seamlessly into the team which the dynamic duo had put together… by the way we were also paid on time – this bodes well for Serco’s supply chain!!
The ethical Monolith
Having worked in the sector from the TEC days it was reassuring for me to see and hear high ethics and commendable aspirations being enunciated from within the belly of the monolith which is Serco. What was said internally was communicated externally … there were no double messages, hedged bets, or duplicitous actions… this made it easy for Serco but even easier for yesMinister to engage with Serco and its supply chain.
Pastures New
Richard has gone on to pastures new but lets be clear… many Prime contractors stood quietly whilst Richard expounded on the pros and cons of the new commissioning framework, on the impact of payment by results on providers, beneficiaries – now there’s a word that’s rarely used -, and government. Richard has indeed been a ‘critical friend’; many have silently benefited from his insights. Richard definitely applied his skills of oratory, his attention to detail and his ability to discern which was bolstered by his confidence in the research that his team had been doing on the ground and which was further supported by the modelling, statistical analysis and attention to detail…
The new level of transparency of accounting which is characteristic of the sector came from RJ. The innovative 3 Step Delivery Model was born out of the belly of the Dynamic Duo…
Machiavelli
As Machiavelli says.. the innovator is at most risk because on one hand he has those who have benefited from the old system and are fearful of losing out under a new system.
On the other hand, those who ‘could’ benefit from the proposed new system are fearful of that change and of what it will mean….. this leaves the innovator in a precarious position … still innovating but with others waiting, waiting, waiting and trying to time and negotiate their own advantage……
The sector will definitely miss RJ…..
By the way Richard…. ….. lets do lunch … there are new plans emerging,.,.,….. its not over yet……
Seasons greetings………follow this
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