Today, Liz Kendall MP, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions launched Labour’s ‘Get Britain Working’ mission to help people re-engage with the labour market. As part of her plans, York and North Yorkshire has been identified as one of eight trailblazer areas to address economic inactivity, in joining up work, health and skills support, so that everyone has the opportunity for a good job.

For too long, services have been fragmented and at times have worked against each other, but in setting this new ambition, people who have not been able to work, will be helped to find real employment opportunities. We need to ensure that we significantly invest in good quality jobs in the city, and employers need to be creative in ensuring that all can be included.

While York has a low unemployment rate, across the country near 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness and almost 1 million young people are not in education, employment or training, meaning that their skills and talents are not being utilised to benefit them and the country.

Rachael Maskell MP for York Central says:
“I will scrutinise the ‘Get Britain Working’ plans to ensure that York really is that trailblazer in opening up opportunity and addressing the significant inequality that unemployment brings. Further, I welcome health, education and employment coming together to support people in work and those who can’t. Alongside these proposals, much of which will fall to the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, I will also ensure that I make the case that for those who cannot work, due to significant illness or sickness, that the welfare state serves its purpose in providing protection. None of us ever know when the twists and turns of life need us requiring the help of the state.

Labour’s ‘Get Britain Working Plan’