Briefings and responses

Councils and combined authorities have an important and wide-reaching role in the skills system and their local economy. They are committed to working in partnership with their local employer base and further education sector to create a Post-16 education offer that works for businesses and gives every young person the chance to gain world class skills.

Research commissioned by the LGA reveals that the skills gap is worsening. By 2024 there will be more than four million too few high-skilled people to take up available jobs, two million too many with intermediate skills and more than six million too many low-skilled.

Local government – local authorities (LAs) and mayoral combined authorities (MCAs) – have a crucial role in making the skills and employment system work for their areas, and have wide-ranging functions and expertise in the skills system.

Throughout the pandemic, councils were trusted to lead the employment and skills recovery in their areas.

As furlough ends, no community will be untouched by unemployment. It is vitally important that a joined up, place-based employment, skills and careers system offers adults and young people the recovery they deserve by providing access to quality education and training opportunities.

A key issue for local government is business continuity and the ability to plan for the sustainability of essential public services and that local private and public sector employers have a steady supply of the skills they need to thrive and grow.

Councils and combined authorities have an important and wide-reaching role in the skills system and their local economy.

The Government’s approach to give local Employer Representative Bodies a lead role in articulating their skills need in Local Skills Improvement Plans is a step in the right direction. However, the wide-ranging role of local government – councils and MCAs/GLA – in supporting this process is missing from the Act and statutory guidance.

The LGA is calling for powers, funding and responsibilities on employment and skills to be devolved to councils so they can plan investment in their area, reduce long term unemployment and maximise opportunities for joint working.

Steps taken by DWP to influence the design of Jobcentre Plus (JCP) and co-design the Work and Health Programme with local areas are positive. However we are calling on the DWP to take a holistic approach to all employment services, and ensure funding for these services is devolved to all areas across England.