Issue - items at meetings - Employment Update

Verbal update from the Economic Development Manager.

38.1               The Cabinet Member considered verbal update from the Economic Development Manager concerning employment within the city. She made the following points:

§         Brighton & Hove was fairing marginally better than the national outlook for employment and the anticipated rise in employment support allowance had not yet materialised.

§         The rise in public sector job cuts had resulted in a high number of part time redundancies, which had disproportionately affected working women.

§         Nationally, there had been a rise in the numbers claiming Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) and it was necessary to create the right conditions for private sector growth to make up for public sector job losses.

§         Locally there had been a modest increase in JSA claimants and youth unemployment was a concern in the city and nationally; however, the new work programme had shown some positive results with exposure to employers having an impact on young people obtaining employment.

§         The City Employment & Skills Working Group had set up a steering group to look at apprenticeships and City Employment & Skills Plan included a commitment to making progress in this area.

38.2               The Cabinet Member noted the mixed news and acknowledged the concern around youth unemployment. She welcomed support from partners in relation to apprenticeships and requested an update from the steering group at a future meeting.

38.3               Councillor Morgan echoed concerns about female and youth unemployment and agreed that apprenticeships were key to helping tackle the youth problem. He stated that the lack of progress on major projects in the city had contributed to the problem, making it difficult to attract businesses.

38.4               Councillor C Theobald noted that the city was attractive to young people and that school leavers were now competing with graduates for many jobs.

38.5               The Cabinet Member reported that officers were working hard to deliver less complex projects to bring business premises up to specification. She stated that she would like to see employment space as part of all major developments.

38.6               RESOLVED – That the update be noted.