RSS Press releases

 The Council’s Economy and Resources committee (16 November) will consider a report giving an update of the on developments in the Skills, Employment, and Inclusion workstream of the Economic Recovery Plan 2019/2023, agreed the Council in July 2020

The report will:

• Provide an update on the support offered by the council for young person’s employability and skill development through the UK Government Kickstart scheme and the Scottish Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee.
• Provide information on new provision through No One Left Behind – Long Term Unemployed Intermediate Labour Market announced as part of the Scottish Government Covid Recovery Strategy: for a fairer future.
• Outline the joint Scottish and Local Government announcement on the implementation of the second phase of No One Left Behind and the role for local authorities.
• Provide information on existing activity in the Council’s employability approach with partners through No One Left Behind and the Young Person’s Guarantee support available to young people.

 The committee will be asked to:

• Note that Employability and Skills has worked with Organisational Development and other Council services to exceed the target for Kickstart opportunities, providing an increased number and wider range of opportunities for young people aged 16-24.
• Note the additional No One Left Behind funding for local Intermediate Labour Market opportunities for those aged 25+ and the requirement for a Delivery Proposition from the Local Employability Partnership.
• Note the update on the No One Left Behind employability approach, including the joint announcement from the Scottish Government and CoSLA of the Phase 2 implementation in April 2022.
• Note the update on current activity and the approach being taken by Dumfries and Galloway’s Local Employability and Skills Partnership and the funding available to support this.

The pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges within the labour market, with real rises in unemployment. In September 2021 the Dumfries & Galloway claimant count was 3,530 people and 4.1% of the working aged population (aged 16 to 64). Whilst this has been reducing since early 2021, the figure remains 21% higher than pre-pandemic levels. The number of people receiving Universal Credit in Dumfries and Galloway in September 2021 was 11,885 (13.8% of working aged people), having increased by 69% since the start of the pandemic.

The employment rate for Dumfries and Galloway was 68.7% between July 2020 and June 2021, down from 73.0% the previous year. The unemployment rate for Dumfries and Galloway between July 2020 and June 2021 was 2,900 and 4.5%, up from 1,800 and 2.7% the previous year. In August/September 2021, there were 1,600 people on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and a further 1,600 individuals who were on the Self-employment Income Support Scheme.

Councillor Rob Davidson, chair of the Economy and Resources committee, said: “We face significant labour market challenges as we work to recover from the severe economic impact of the Covid pandemic. Inequality has increased during the pandemic, with real hardship experienced by vulnerable groups, including those on lower income, fewer hours and those experiencing poverty. Our Council is working with a range of partners to alleviate the negative impact of Covid.”

Councillor Archie Dryburgh, vice chair, said” A number of groups have been adversely impacted by the Covid pandemic, including older people, ethnic minorities, disabled people, and young people. The challenge has been especially evident for young people entering the labour market. We must address this as we strive to recover post-Covid.”