Responding to the Prince’s Trust report into the ‘looming skills
crisis’, which found that almost half of employers struggle to
recruit people with the skills their organisations need, Cllr Kevin
Bentley, Chairman of the LGA’s People and Places Board, said:
“Improving the mismatch between the skills employers need and the
support and training being offered to jobseekers is vital to
tackle a host of other challenges our country faces, from health
and social care to housing.
“The current centrally-governed skills and employment system has
become fragmented and ineffective for those looking to get ahead
in work. Our own research estimates six million people could be
caught in a skills gap as a result by 2030.
“Councils can help the Government fulfil its ambition to level up
all parts of the country and close skills gaps with powers and
funding to deliver one-stop skills services locally.
“We urge government to use the Budget to commit to devolving all
back-to-work, skills, apprenticeship, careers advice, and
business support schemes and funding to the local areas in which
they are used. This would enable councils to build on tried and
tested discretionary skills schemes, protect jobs, support more
young people into work and drive up economic
growth.”
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The report – Local Skills Deficits and Spare Capacity – by
the L&W for the LGA aims to model potential skills gaps in
2030 in England with particular focus on eight areas within
England. The full report is available here.
- Work Local – The LGA’s vision for a place based approach to
employment and skills services can be found here.
- Case studies of discretionary schemes run by councils can be
found here.
- More than £10 billion a year is spent by eight government
departments or agencies across 20 different national employment
and skills schemes.
