Only two thirds of working population in Blackburn have a paid job
Senior councillors were told the authority's figures were well below the national target
Only two-thirds of Blackburn with Darwen borough’s working age population actually have paid jobs senior councillors have been told.
Education boss Cllr Julie Gunn revealed the 67.2 per cent figure – well below the official target – as the council’s executive board signed up to a new programme aimed at breaking down barriers to employment.
She told its meeting on Thursday evening: “Connect to Work is the first programme under the Government’s new ‘Get Britain Working’ Strategy.
“It is a large-scale Department of Work and Pensions funded supported employment programme, working with economically inactive individuals who are either disabled or have additional barriers to work.
“The aim is to address the significant growth in economic inactivity, particularly due to health conditions.
“Approximately one third of economic inactivity is considered to result from health-related barriers.
“Connect to Work will support those, primarily currently outside the workforce and facing greater labour market disadvantages, to get into work and to stay in work.
“The current employment rate in Blackburn with Darwen stands at 67.2 per cent, falling 12.8 percentage points short of the government’s target of 80 per cent.
“This gap reflects entrenched localised challenges, such slower overall participation, particularly among women and those with caring responsibilities and significant economic inactivity, often linked to long-term health conditions and cultural factors.
“As one of Lancashire’s most diverse local authorities, Blackburn with Darwen has a notably higher proportion of residents stating ‘looking after family/home’ as their reason for economic inactivity.
“This suggests that culturally influenced roles, limited access to childcare, and a lack of flexible employment options may be contributing to the borough’s low female participation rate.
“Connect to Work in Blackburn with Darwen will target individuals facing barriers to employment, particularly the long-term unemployed and the economically inactive.
“Locally, we will have a specific focus on care leavers, young people with SEND, refugees and people with disabilities and long-term health conditions.
“However, our local offer will not exclude other eligible marginalised groups who also require the support provided.
“This is to ensure that there is a focus on those people most in need of support whilst aligning this with identified priorities in Blackburn with Darwen.
“Delivery will be across Blackburn with Darwen as a region identified as having high levels of unemployment and socio-economic challenges as well as a high number of economically inactive people who have a desire to work but need the right support in place.
“The local authority’s in-house Employment Support team offer for Connect to Work will follow the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) framework to deliver high-quality, evidence-based employment support.
“Lancashire County Council’s Supported Employment Service will deliver the more intensive support required by individuals with more complex support needs.”