What steps is the Minister taking to address the recent statistics showing that the economic inactivity rate for people aged 16 to 64 in Wales was 19.8 per cent, down 0.7 percentage points compared with the previous year?
We are committed to do all we can to give people in Wales the support, training and skills they need to move from economic inactivity into employment.
Our approach is to work with individuals to access the support they need to overcome their barriers to finding and moving into suitable work, rather than force people into taking up work because of the threat of benefit sanctions. Our Working Wales service provides advice and guidance to anyone aged 16 and over, tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.
In May 2022 I announced the Welsh Government will step in to fund the expansion of the Communities for Work+ employability programme from April 2023, following the UK Government’s failure to honour repeated promises that Wales would not be a penny worse off following the UK departure from the EU.
Since its launch in 2018, this highly successful programme has provided intensive employment support and training to over 35,700 individuals who are economically inactive or unemployed, helping them overcome complex barriers to employment.
The Welsh Government is also continuing to invest in the Out of Work Service which provides employment support for people recovering from mental ill-health and/or substance misuse. Between October 2022 and March 2025, the programme will aim to support over 10,800 people towards and into employment, including up to 4,500 people aged over 25 who are economically inactive.