Increasing Jobs & Prosperity
Why is this a priority for Rochdale
Borough?
Getting people into jobs is the most important factor in helping
them out of poverty and deprivation.
- 22% of working age adults in the borough are out of work,
compared with 15% in England.
- 14,800 people in the borough claim worklessness benefits.
- Manufacturing is still very important to he local economy but
is forecast to lose 10,000 jobs in Rochdale and Oldham by
2015.
- Jobs in the borough pay about £70 less per week than the
England average. The level of new businesses starting up is very
low and is the 3rd lowest in Greater Manchester.
The key factor in getting a job and being wellpaid is the level
of skills and qualifications that a person has. Nationally over two
thirds of new jobs in the future will require National Vocational
Qualification Level 3 (2 A Levels) or above
- Nearly one in five adults (19%) has no qualifications at all,
compared with 15% in England. In the most deprived neighbourhoods
up to a half of adults have no qualifications.
What is the focus of this priority?
The Economic Partnership is already working with local
businesses and communities to deal with these issues and are
developing new strategies and action plans for this work.
What has been acheived under
the priority?
- We have helped to develop Kingsway Business Park.
- We launched ‘Buy Local Spend Local’ initiative to encourage
support for local businesses.
- We set up professional recruitment and employment services for
employers.
- We provided support to those claiming incapacity benefit
matching them with training and employment
- opportunities when deemed fit to work.
what else are we going to do?
- Provide skills to support existing and new business
- Attract high quality businesses to the borough
- Increase employment boroughwide
- Assist local businesses
- Develop our town centres