Today (27th March), we have published our manifesto for the future of employability in Wales.
We’re calling for everyone in Wales to have the right to access high‑quality employment support, delivered through a system that works effectively for individuals, employers, and providers.
Our members in Wales have delivered employability programmes for decades. Today, they deliver a wide range of provision, including Restart, Jobs Growth Wales+, Connect to Work, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the Out of Work Service, and the In Work Support Service. Collectively, they bring deep expertise in supporting people into work and engaging employers across the country.
Good work is fundamental to people’s wellbeing, while being out of work is associated with poorer social and economic outcomes. An effective employability system not only supports individuals into jobs but also reduces pressure on public services and contributes to wider economic growth.
If Wales is to match the UK average employment rate (75.1%), an additional 62,500 people will need to be supported into work.
However, there are some stubborn labour market challenges that the next government needs to tackle to achieve this:
- Economic inactivity is higher in Wales than in the rest of the UK.
- There are stark regional disparities in labour market outcomes, particularly in former industrial and rural areas.
- Women and people from ethnic minority groups are more likely to be economically inactive than men.
- Seventeen per cent of 16- to 24-year-olds (around 57,500 young people) are not in education, employment or training.
The next Senedd term presents a clear opportunity to build a more joined‑up and accessible system that works better for individuals, employers, and providers alike.
This manifesto sets out ERSA’s priorities for achieving that ambition. Read it in full here.