The number one mission of this government is economic growth. Getting Scotland working is key to getting Scotland growing. That is this government’s top priority. It’s our top priority because everybody deserves the security and opportunity to get on in life.
Yet in Scotland today the level of economic inactivity is higher than the rest of the UK. That is people who are not employed but not looking for work – often because of something like ill health or childcare, or simply because the jobs market has beaten them down so much they have given up. In fact as many as 135,000 people want a job but are classed as economically inactive.
That’s why we need a new model for employment support that helps everyone. If you’re looking for work, we’ll help you find a job and then help you get on in your career. If you have a health condition or disability but don’t want to be written off, we will offer you a pathway back to work.
If you’re a young person starting out in your career, we’ll make sure you are able to learn or earn and if you’re an employer looking for talent and potential, we’ll help you find the person you need. And thanks to Labour’s new deal for working people to make work pay, these jobs will have stronger rights and better wages.
To deliver this, we need to work in partnership with the Scottish Government. That’s why resetting the relationship between Scotland’s two governments has been so important. People know Labour and the SNP have lots they disagree on, but in areas where we have a shared goal, people expect us to work together to get the better results for Scotland.
There is no area where it is more important we work together than in helping more people into work.
The UK government’s plans will mean that Scotland will benefit from a new jobs and careers service although this will look different in Scotland, reflecting the fact that careers support is run by the Scottish Government and that there are established local partnerships and specific local needs.
Through new governance arrangements, to be established with the Scottish Government, we will work hand-in-hand when designing the new service to ensure it meets the needs of Scottish people and employers, while drawing on best practice and learning from the Scottish Government’s skills, youth, careers and employment support initiatives.
We will work with the Scottish Government to ensure all aspects of our new approach to delivering employment support partnered effectively with devolved provision, including but not limited to skills, health and careers as well as Scottish Government-funded employment support.
Labour is the party of working people, we believe in the dignity of work and that everyone should have the opportunity to access work and get on in life. Our plan to get Scotland working will get Scotland growing.
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