Unemployment, benefits and adult training review Three Rivers LSP Board Meeting 5 th September 2012

Unemployment Claimant Count 22% decrease in claimants in the District since Sept 2009 (40-65% decrease in some wards) to 1026 claimants (June 2012). 26% drop in Rickmansworth (including Maple Cross, Mill End, Penn and Rickmansworth West). 19% drop in Abbots Langley South Oxhey was only area to increase – makes up 38% of total district claimants (June 2012). Haying and Carpenders Park continue to increase, Northwick and Ashridge did increase until recently.

Unemployment Claimant Count Increasing number of South Oxhey female claimants until end of 2011 – now levelled off. South Oxhey Male claimants make up 39% of the District total (June 2012). Proportions of working age claimants in key wards are: –Northwick – 4.8% –Hayling – 3.8% –Ashridge – 3.4% –Langleybury – 2.3% –Maple Cross & Mill End – 2.3% Hertfordshire claimant rate is 2.4% vs Three Rivers rate of 1.8% (June 2012)

Key Benefit Claimants (working age) Feb 12 Three Rivers (Numbers) Three Rivers % Herts %East %GB % Total Claimants Job Seekers ESA & Incapacity Lone parents Carers Others on income related Disabled Bereaved Key out of work benefits

Key Benefit Claimants (working age) Aug 11 Herts %Northwick %Hayling %Ashridge %Langlebury % Total Claimants Job Seekers ESA & Incapacity Lone parents Carers Others on income related Disabled Bereaved No data available for Maple Cross and Mill End

Incapacity & Severe Disablement – Over 5 Years Number of claimants rose by 16% May 06-Aug 11 to 1110 people. 44% increase in Northwick Rates in key wards: –Northwick – 180 people = 16.2% of District total. –Langleybury people = 9% of District total. –Ashridge - 95 people = 8.6% of District total –Hayling - 80 people = 7.2% of District total. No data for Maple Cross and Mill End South Oxhey has 32% of the District claimants.

Vacancies vs Occupations Sought Between Jan 2010 and Jun 2012 the number of unfilled vacancies in Three Rivers has more than doubled. Top three occupations sought by Three Rivers residents are: –Sales/Retail Assistants (185) –General Office Assistants / Clerks (90) –Good Handling / Storage Occupation (65)

Vacancies vs Occupations Sought But… only 1 goods handling storage occupation vacancy per 32 people in Three Rivers Only 1 general office assistant/clerk vacancy per 18 people in Three Rivers Only 1 Sales/retail assistant vacancy per 185 people in Three Rivers

Top 3 types of notifications of vacancies in Three Rivers are: –Care Assistants / Home Workers (108) –HGV Drivers (22) –Sales Representative (21) Per person seeking this type of job there were: –4 HGV Drivers vacancies –5 Care Assistant/Home Worker vacancies –1 Sales Representative vacancy Vacancies vs Occupations Sought

Adult Training Jobs sought do not match vacancy profile. Can West Herts College deliver more care work training? This could reflect areas of highest incapacity benefit. Training for employment most needed in South Oxhey still – only area above Herts unemployment rate. Training needs to go beyond numeracy and literacy – into vocational training. Numeracy and literacy is a requirement for most courses though.

NEETs – 16-19yr olds 73 in the District as a whole (June 2012) Highest ward levels are: –Ashridge – 12 –Maple Cross and Mill End – 11 –Northwick – 10 –Hayling – 8 –Langleybury – 8

Conclusions Develop adult skills work to match vacancy profiles Large number of people on incapacity benefits: –Health and disability implications? –Housing implications? –Family support implications?