Lyons: Once in a generation opportunity to support people into work in Northern Ireland

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is driving forward on a radical approach to reduce economic inactivity and get more people into work.

A £16million Pathways to Work and Wellbeing project is underway to achieve fundamental change to employability and health supports for people who are not in work or at risk of leaving employment.

Speaking at a visit to USEL, with the new chair of the Commission on Work and Wellbeing Rt Hon Alan Milburn, Minister Lyons said: Economic inactivity is one of the biggest challenges we face in Northern Ireland.

We have the highest rates in the UK with over a quarter of working-age people, around 319,000, not in a job.

We know that this creates a range of risks for people, from poverty to mental health and other issues.

My focus is on removing barriers they face and support more people into meaningful, sustainable employment.

The groundbreaking project is funded through the Executive's Transformation Fund and is supported in partnership with the Department of Health and Department for the Economy.

The Minister added: Pathways to Work and Wellbeing is all about understanding and addressing the factors behind economic inactivity, particularly in relation to disability and ill health. I want to see investment in a preventative approach that prioritises early intervention to help both employers and jobseekers overcome barriers.

As part of this I have established an independent Commission for Work and Wellbeing, and Chair Alan Milburn has begun an in-depth engagement programme to listen to all voices and lead on a long-term strategic approach to achieve the change needed.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to support more people into sustainable employment, improve health outcomes and reduce poverty across Northern Ireland.

Minister Lyons' focus on addressing health-related economic inactivity is part of a wider anti-poverty agenda which includes consultation on a ten-year Disability and Work strategy and the Executive's Anti-Poverty Strategy.

The new Pathways project will test a new work and health model designed to integrate employment, health, skills and community support.

Rt Hon Alan Milburn said: "Poor health is holding back too many people in Northern Ireland and it is dampening economic growth. Employers are short of skilled labour but there is a pool of talent locked out of the labour market. By working independently with employers, educators and local services, the Commission will identify new ways of bridging that gap."

USEL is one of the leading providers of employment support in Northern Ireland for people with disabilities or health conditions. During the visit, Minister Lyons and Mr Milburn met a range of people availing of its employment, training and support services.

Notes to editors: 

1. Northern Ireland has significantly higher economic inactivity rates than the UK-wide rate of 21%, with 26.8% of the working age population affected. Disability and ill health is cited as the primary reason for inactivity by 36.7% of this group.
    
2. £16m of Transformation funding has been provided for the Pathway to Work and Wellbeing proposal. This investment will deliver a redesigned Health and Work model delivered by the Department for Communities in partnership with the Department of Health and the Department for the Economy, offering stronger integration between employability and health services to support more people, including those with ill health and disabilities, to find and sustain employment. USEL provides disability employment support in Northern Ireland and is an arms-length body of the Department for Communities.
    
3. The Right Honourable Alan Milburn was a Member of the UK Parliament from 1992 to 2010, serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary of State for Health and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. He led major reforms to health and social care and coordinated policy across government. After leaving Parliament, he chaired the Social Mobility Commission and led national reviews on child poverty. He is a senior adviser to PwC, chairs Huma, serves on corporate boards, is Chancellor of Lancaster University and supports several charities. Alan was the Lead Commissioner for the Barnsley Pathways to Work Commission.