Islington: New initiatives set to boost employment in the borough

Islington Council has spearheaded a new initiative designed to get more people into work. It launched an Employment Commission, which aims to explore how to boost job opportunities in the borough.

The commission brings together high profile leaders from the public, and private sectors to ask why the proportion of residents out of work in the borough remains high despite there being 1.3 jobs for every adult of working age.

According to the council, almost half the borough's children live in poverty and for 86 per cent of poor families, unemployment is the cause of this.

Residents have also been encouraged to get involved and will be asked to give evidence at a public meeting.

The developments are part of efforts by the government to get the public involved in initiatives that directly affect them.

The Employment Commission follows the successful Islington Fairness Commission, which was set up in 2010 and has inspired similar organisations across the UK. It is chaired by councillor Robert Khan and Maggie Semple OBE, chief executive of Experience Corps.

Commenting on the developments, councillor Robert Khan said: "Despite its image as a wealthy area, Islington has longstanding problems around unemployment.

"The Commission aims to develop radical recommendations to overcome these and ensure Islington residents have the skills and support to take advantage of job opportunities here in the borough and in London".

Figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) last month revealed that the percentage of people aged from 16 to 64 who were in work is 72.1 per cent.

There were 30.15 million people in employment aged 16 and over, up 193,000 from July to September 2013.

Co-chair of the commission Maggie Semple said the main aim of the initiative will be to try and understand why some residents are not taking advantage of the job opportunities in the borough.

Published 5th March, 2014

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