Worklessness

This workstream is about understanding and analysing the levels of worklessness in Manchester and looking at the causes and potential solutions.

We are drawing on the body of research identified in the city's worklessness strategy and contributing to that strategy.

We are promoting the financial inclusion of all residents and encouraging working households to stay in the city.

Key issues

Intelligence
We need timely, local intelligence on worklessness and the strategic activities needed to tackle it. We will ensure appropriate, timely information is available to the group on intelligence and performance monitoring.

Workforce diversity
We will review organisational health indicators to reflect workforce diversity and local recruitment from target groups such as; the unemployed, Incapacity Benefit claimants, lone parents, older residents (50 plus), and people from black and minority ethnic (BME) communities.

Influencing the supply chain
Registered social landlords (RSLs) are significant procurers of goods and services. We can extend the good practice of workforce diversity and recruitment and 'growing our own' down the supply chain by our procurement criteria.

Construction procurement
The transfer of council estates to new not-for-profit companies is helping deliver local employment benefits. See Parkway Green Housing Trust for example.

Best practice
We will review the practices of other housing providers to help us collectively develop local training and employment initiatives.

'Growing our own'
The public sector is one of the largest employers of unskilled workers. The skilling-up of workers benefits an organisation in terms of employee recruitment, progression and retention.