Jobs growth (national)
The number of unemployed in York has fallen to its lowest level since 2008.
The latest ONS figures show only 1.4% claiming JSA in the City in April. (1.9% Men, 1.0% Women)
The improvement reflects an upward trend in employment levels across the whole country.
The national figures show the largest quarterly rise in employment since stats were started 40 years ago.
The latest ONS figures reveal that there are 1430 men and 682 women unemployed and seeking work in York at the end of March.
This represents 1.6% of the working population and compares to the regional average of 3.8%
The total of 2122 represents a reduction from the January total of 2183.
Unemployment in the City has reduced by 931 over the last year.
The improvement can be traced to the general economic recovery underpinned by several specific Coalition government initiatives
Unemployment in January fell again with 2183 people now claiming job seekers allowance in York.
This is a reduction of 855 during the year.
Male unemployment stood at 2.2% while female unemployment was only 1.1%.
Click here for details of what is being done to bring jobs to our area
Labour Councillors today voted through (by 3 votes to 2) the appointment of a new £70,000 a year “Interim Assistant Director Transformation and Change”
The post has been described as a “non-job” with vague objectives
A variety of questions were asked by opposition Councillors, including why just an internal advert, about the pool of people who could apply, about constituency of recruitment across the council and why if they could save money from a Children’s Services post did they need even more than the £500k set aside for transformation.
The post will be recruited internally. Only existing Council staff will be able to apply.
Two other posts are also to be advertised. An Assistant Directors for School Improvement and Highways/Waste will be advertised externally.
Unlike other Council meetings this committee’s debates are neither transmitted over the web.
Nor is an audio recording made available for residents.
Apparently some agricultural language was used by one of the participants.
In York the number claiming job seekers allowance has fallen to 1.6% of the population. That is down from 2.10% in November last year.
Employment trends click to enlarge
A total of 2133 York residents were claiming Job seekers allowance last month. This figure is likely to increase in January as seasonal jobs come to an end.
The lowest ever unemployed numbers were recorded in 2004 when only 1.2% were looking for jobs.
The change reflects an improving economy. The trend in the City almost exactly mirrors the national picture.
Nationally unemployment has dropped by 0.8 percentage points over the last year.
In York the improvement has been less at 0.6 percentage points.
At the last York Council, meeting the Labour Leadership tried to claim that the change was due to their decision to borrow and spend a £28 million Economic Infrastructure Fund. The Fund was started early in 2012.
However, by that time. unemployment had fallen from a peak of 4134 to 3682; a trend that continued.
The only quick way for the public sector to create jobs quickly is – as Hitler and Mussolini demonstrated – by spending on public works (autobahns etc). Such a short term policy does increase the number of construction jobs for a time at least.
The only work of this kind announced by the Council is the so called “bridge to nowhere” at the York Central site. Work on this won’t start for another couple of years at least.
The rest has been squandered on a plethora of uncoordinated initiatives ranging from “free” public WiFi to arts barges and the like.
The only direct effect that the present Council could claim to have had on the local economy is the creation of around 100 apprentice posts at the Council. These post were more than outweighed by job losses incurred as public service standards were been slashed.
The legacy will of course be a huge increase in the debt burden of each resident living in the City.
Vince Cable launching York Business survey
York born Business Secretary Vince Cable visited the city on Saturday to officially launch a major new business survey.
The Liberal Democrat survey looks at how local businesses can be supported and what more can be done to encourage employers to take on apprentices. It also asks businesses for their views on the Labour run Council’s decision to close Lendal Bridge and issues such as tax, barriers to taking on new staff and the impact of EU membership. The survey will initially be delivered to over 500 businesses across York in the coming weeks.
Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, commented:
“I am delighted to support this effort to engage with local businesses in York. It is crucial that we listen to what employers are saying and ensure that everything is being done to support businesses locally as well as understanding the impact on the ground of national issues.
Speaking on the efforts to encourage employers to take-on apprentices, Vince Cable commented:
“Apprenticeships are one of this Government’s top priorities. Practical, technical and vocational skills should be valued as equals to academic achievement. Since 2010 1.2 million new apprenticeships have helped young people into work including over 4,000 in York. We need to continue this progress by highlighting successful schemes and by understanding what more can be done to encourage local employers to take on apprentices.”
As part of the survey the York Lib Dems will be establishing a new Local Business Forum. This will give employers in York an opportunity to discuss the local economy and the impact of City of York Council policies.
The drive to help young people get jobs in York will be boosted by plans to abolish employers’ National Insurance Contributions (NICs) for under 21-years-olds, York’s Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Keith Aspden said today.
The news means businesses will no longer have to pay tax on their employees aged under 21-years-old. For example, companies will save £1,000 each year for every young employee earning £16,000.
In York the plan to abolish NICs for young people from April 2015 means companies will not have to pay the contributions for 5,750 young people.
Major cities in England will receive government cash to invest over the next 3 years to help young people into lasting employment.
Nick Glegg
£4.6 million will be invested in the Leeds City Region to provide intensive, targeted wraparound support for at risk and long-term unemployed young people, an innovative pilot looking at the role that Employment Agencies can play in helping young people into work and the creation of a new Young Ambassador Scheme to offer peer mentoring, support and advice to young people
There are more people in work today than ever before. Since 2010 the government has helped to create over 1.4 million jobs in the private sector and over 1 million apprenticeships have started since the election.
Since April 2012, over 136,000 young people have started a work experience placement through the Youth Contract.
On 30 July the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Minister for Cities Greg Clark launched a competition for cities to design trailblazing initiatives to boost youth employment using £50m of funding from the Youth Contract scheme.
The Office for National Statistics have released figures today stating that there are 2195 claimants in York, a fall of 122 from last month and of 872 since October 2012.
National unemployment trends click to enlarge
The claimant count represents 1.6% of the working population and contrasts to the regional average which stands at 3.9%.
The figures are also much lower than the national average which stands at 3%.
The change though reflects the national economic recovery.
Nationally the number of people in work has increased by 378,000 in the last year to a record breaking 29.95m according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) today.
The unemployment rate has also fallen to 7.6%, down 0.2%.
Today’s figures also show that unemployment has fallen by 48,000 in the last year, and long term unemployment has dropped by 19,000 in the last three months.
The number of young people in work has increased by 50,000 over the last three months, and youth unemployment has dropped by 13,100.
Commenting, Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Committee for Work and Pensions, Greg Mulholland, said:
“This is another encouraging sign that the economy is recovering.
“Today’s figures show the total number of people in employment is now at a record high, with the rise being driven by a growth in full-time and permanent jobs.
“The Liberal Democrats in Government have helped business create more than a million private sector jobs, and now we are working to help create a million more.
“This recovery would not be happening without the Liberal Democrats in Government.
“There is a long way to go, but the economy is on the mend and jobs are crucial to building a stronger economy and a fairer society that allows everyone to get on in life.”
A new round of the Government’s Regional Growth Fund has opened for businesses across the country, and City of York Council is encouraging firms in York to bid for a share of the £300 million cash pot.
Nick Clegg at launch of Regional Growth Fund
The fund, which has already supported almost 300 projects and programmes across the country, is open to bids of £1 million or more for high quality private sector projects and programmes that leverage private sector investment and create sustainable jobs.
Round five of the Regional Growth Fund will close to applications on Monday 9 December, with successful bidders announced in Spring 2014. Bids will need to demonstrate the potential for creating long-term, private-sector led economic growth and employment, and also evidence a significant private sector matched funding contribution.
For further information, or for help with the application process businesses can visit https://www.gov.uk/understanding-the-regional-growth-fund#round-5-now-open-for-bids or contact Andrew Sharp or Charles Storr in City of York Council’s Economic Development Unit on 01904 555834 or 01904 555901.